Blue & White Porcelain Tianqiuping Vase - Wave Dragons

This reproduction Chinese porcelain tianqiuping bottle vase is decorated in an inverted blue & white glaze. The painting depicts five claw white dragons on a background of waves. Although the dragon was claimed as the symbol of the emperor during the Han dynasty (206 BC - 22 AD) it wasn't until the Ming dynasty (1368 0 1644) that the five claw dragon became the specific symbol of imperial might. It was then that the use of the five claw dragon outside of the imperial court became treasonous

This beautiful vase is hand made on the potters wheel in the traditional way. It is then painted by hand before firing. Porcelain is steeped in centuries of Chinese culture and history.

References:

The original of this vase can be found at the Tokyo National Museum

See Auspicious Meaning in Chinese Art by Tokyo National Museum 

A similar example can be found in the British Museum - PDF.662