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Dragons of clay

January 29, 2012

Ceramic Dragon Art

Chinese Dragon Bottle Dragon 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. 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.

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.

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

Red dragon vase Gold dragon on red glaze vessel

Dragon Handled incense censer

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

Rare 1950s Japan Dragon Ceramic Plate

Japanese Dragon Oil Burner

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

English Wedgwood Cobalt Blue 8 sided bowl

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

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 Vase Black dragon on yellow vase

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

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.