Item No.: 1165
Name: A large wucai dish with long-tailed birds and pomegranates
Period: Qing dynasty, Kangxi reign
Diameter: 45.0 cm
A male bird flies overhead while a female stands on a branch looking upward. The Chinese commentary interprets their exchange as a phoenix-and-phoenix image of marital harmony. Pomegranates and peonies add wishes for many children and abundant blessings. It relates these motifs to the Kangxi government’s encouragement of recovery and population growth after prolonged upheaval.
Red, yellow, and purple dominate the rich palette. Although described as wucai, or “five colors,” the decoration employs a broader range of hues. Intricate coloring and finely controlled brushwork give the scene a warm, joyful atmosphere.