“Qing Yang Zuo” Dragon and tiger bronze mirror Han Dynasty (206 BC- AD 220)

This mirror reflects that ancient people believed the tiger would protect their families from evil. The bronze mirror has a spherical knob on a round base. Above the knob are a dragon and a tiger arranged face to face. Below the knob is an inscription with three characters: “Huang Yang Zuo.” A saw pattern and double-lined wave pattern adorn the rim. This thick and heavy mirror has a pleasing covering of black patina.

Yellow glazed pillow in the shape of a tiger Song Dynasty (960 - 1279)

This pillow is molded in the shape of a crouching tiger, with the head, tail and limbs forming the outline of the pillow. The body is covered with amber-orange and white glaze, which, in turn, is painted with lively black stripes imparting a natural look and rhythmic flare.

Underglaze tricolors pot with design of dragon and tiger Kangxi Period of Qing Dynasty (1661-1722)

This kind of pot is called “Jiangjunguan,” which means “pot of the general,” because the lid looks like a general’s helmet from the Qing Dynasty. The pot body is vividly painted with a dragon and tiger design in blue and white glaze, red glaze and pea green glaze. It shows that the strong tiger was still appreciated when agriculture, handicrafts and commerce flourished in Chinese society.

Editor: Liu Fang