Dragons of clay

 

Ceramic Dragon Art

 

Chinese Dragon BottleDragon motif baluster vase

 

It is auspicious to honour the magnanimous dragon in a Dragon Year. As it’s a Water Dragon in 2012, and many other harmonic forces are  aligning too, such as Neptune  and Uranus in Pisces ( a powerful water aspect ), intuitive and artistic inspiration will be well aspected, especially with the abstract and impressionistic. Dragon symbol The dragon is a mythological animal of Chinese origin, and a member of the Naga (Sanskrit) family of serpentine creatures who protect Buddhism. Japan’s dragon lore comes predominantly from China. Images of the reptilian dragon are found throughout Asia, and the pictorial form most widely recognized today was already prevalent in Chinese ink paintings in the Tang period (9th century AD).  In contrast to Western mythology, Asian dragons are rarely depicted as malevolent. Although fearsome and powerful, dragons are equally considered just, benevolent, and the bringers of wealth and good fortune. The dragon is also considered a shape shifter who can assume human form and mate with people. The Dragon has the head of a camel, horns or a deer, eyes of a hare, scales of a carp, paws of a tiger, and claws resembling those of an eagle. In addition it has whiskers, a bright jewel under its chin, and a measure on the top of its head which enables it to ascend to Heaven at will. This is merely a general description and does not apply to all dragons, some of which have heads of so extraordinary a kind that they cannot be compared with anything in the animal kingdom. The breath of the Dragon changes into clouds from which come either rain or fire. It is able to expand or contract its body, and in addition it has the power of transformation and invisibility. In the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1911), only the imperial family was allowed to use dragons to decorate their homes, furniture, and clothes.  The dragon is the only mythical animal among the twelve zodiac animals, bringing special auspices to the year of the dragon. In addition, the dragon is believed to possess supernatural powers such as controlling the rain. As a result, it is one of the most popular themes for Asian artists.


black lidded dragon vessel
Silver dragon on black

 

Blue ceramic dragon

 Mid 15th Century Porcelain Dragon Ewer (Vietnam)

Associated with the aquatic aspects of creation, dragons are central themes in Vietnamese cosmology and it was believed that fish of great age transformed themselves into dragons capable of flight. The Ly dynasty named its capital Thang Long or ‘rising dragon’, ( Art Gallery NSW )

 

 A ceramic tile mural of a mythical dragon in Beijing. It’s called the Nine Dragon screen.

escending dragon vietnam

Descending Dragon, Hanoi, Vietnam. ( Wonderfully animated ! )

Red dragon vaseGold dragon on red glaze vessel

dragon handled incense censerDragon Handled incense censer

Takht-i Sulayman, Iran, 14th century. Il-khanid period.

Rare 1950s Japan Dragon Ceramic Plate

Dragon Oil Burner Japan

Japanese Dragon Oil Burner

Dragon Eggs Ceramic Dragon Egg,  18 inches high. Unfortunately, to the dismay of the owner, they were stolen. ( frogspondrock.com )

 

Wedgewood Dragon BowlEnglish Wedgwood Cobalt Blue 8 sided bowl

 

English Wedgwood Cobalt Blue “Dragon Lustre” Bowl, 1920.

 

Large Green Dragon

Hanoi green dragonGreen dragon entrance

 

The 37m long ceramic dragons, which were registered for the Vietnam Book of Records, were moved and set up on West Lake, Hanoi, on January 3 to celebrate the Lunar New Year Festival.

The 9 metre tall  dragons, made by craftsmen from Bat Trang Ceramic Village, had been displayed at the Bach Thao botanical gardens to mark the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

According to cultural researchers, dragons should be located at solemn places close to water and historical relics and West Lake was the most suitable area.

Lidded Yellow Dragon VaseBlack dragon on yellow vase

 

   Pair Of Plain Tri-colored Porcelain Gu-shaped Vases with a Dragon Pattern, Qing Dynasty: Kang Xi Imperial Ware

     Dragon Roof Tile

A glazed  model of a dragon roof tile, China Qing Dynasty. Nagel

 

 

 Tomb of Emperor MinhMang ,Vietnam ( Richard-Seaman .com )

 

 

 Choson Dynasty Dragon Jar -The short-necked, inverted pear-shaped Eighteenth Century jar is 19 inches high and decorated in brilliant cobalt blue with scrolls and a unique vigorously drawn five-clawed dragon. It was sold to a collector in 2002 for $1.2 million. This price was Butterfields’ highest selling singular lot in its 137-year history at the time.

Japanese Dragon Tattoo

Japanese Dragon Tattoo

Giant serpent

Giant Sea Dragon – Crosby, Mn

 ‘Panlong vase’ by designer chen-hsu liu and craft artist shi-ren lu working with traditional koji ceramic and contemporary shapes. Taiwan

Badge-(Lizi)-of-the-Imperial Prince

Badge (Lizi) of the Imperial Prince with Dragon, China, late Ming dynasty (1368-1644), mid-seventeenth century.

( LACMA )

garden dragon http://ceramicemporium.wordpress.com/

dragon motif ginger jar

Dragon ceramic ginger jarScrafitto Dragon decorative vessel

Scrafitto Dragon decorative vessel

Photo (c) Overstock.com

 

Dragon Incense Pot

Dragon Incense Pot

Charlotte Rhead Tube Lined Manchu Charger

Charlotte Rhead Tube Lined Manchu Dragon Charger

Chinese copper dragon teapot

Chinese copper dragon teapot

Chinese porcelain blue & yellow vase

Chinese porcelain blue & yellow dragon vase

Dragon Moriaga Hand Painted coffee pot

Dragon Moriaga Hand Painted coffee pot

c

Chinese blue white dragon teapot

Hirado ware Dragon Vase

Japan Vase with Everted Fluted Lip and Raised Dragon Decor, 19th century Ceramic, Hirado ware; porcelain with underglaze blue.

( LACMA )

Double dragon vase

Ceramic vase with dragon handles and molded design covered in a mustard yellow and green glaze over a red clay body.

( Cowan Auctions )

457px-599px-Dragon-Amphora-vase.jpg

Amphora dragon vase

475px-875px-Antique-Chinese-Qing-Dynast

Antique Chinese Qing Dynasty Period hand painted black and gilt vase depicting dragon and fish.

Antique Nippon Moriage Dragon Vase

Antique Nippon Moriage Dragon Vase

Chinese Blue and White Vase

Chinese Blue and White Vase

Chinese celadon porcelain vase

Chinese dragon celadon porcelain vase.

( Liveauctioneers )

Chinese Qianlong tall dragon vase

Chinese Qianlong tall vase, the vase with detailed 5-toed dragon chasing the flaming pearl of wisdom.

Qing dynasty dragon vase

Qing dynasty dragon vase

Chinese Dragon Teapot

Chinese Dragon Teapot

green ceramic dragonGreen Dragon

 

 

 

 


3 Comments

  1. Pippa
    Posted April 10, 2012 at 11:00 am | Permalink

    I have just bought a ceramic egg about 7inches high. Hand painted blue phoenix and dragons mixed with heraldic shields all on a crackle glazed white base. It feels quite ‘new’ with no damage but the mix of shape, heraldry and dragon/phoenix intrigued me. Do you have any idea what the origin of this piece might be?

    I love your site, which I happened on by chance….even if you can’t help, I have enjoyed visiting!

    Pippa
    Scotland

  2. Anonymous
    Posted February 19, 2018 at 6:30 pm | Permalink

    From were do u have the Foto of the green dragon on the yellow vase searching the pearl of wisdom?
    Are you sure it is a really Quianlong vase?

    It would help me a lot, thank you.

  3. Geri
    Posted June 21, 2022 at 9:59 pm | Permalink

    Can you help me identify my clay raised carved dragon water or drink round vessel. It’s intricate and such high quality work
    If their are signed it’s so faded and in asian writings..

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