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J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 01.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 02.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 03.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 04.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 05.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 06.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides
J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 01.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 02.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 03.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 04.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 05.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 06.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides
J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 01.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 02.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 03.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 04.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 05.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 06.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides
J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 01.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 02.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 03.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 04.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 05.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 06.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides
J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 01.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 02.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 03.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 04.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 05.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 06.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides
J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 01.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 02.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 03.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 04.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 05.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 06.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides
J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 01.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 02.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 03.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 04.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 05.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 06.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides
J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 01.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 02.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 03.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 04.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 05.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides 06.jpg J:\Work\ACF Work files\Sourcing and qc images\Japan\Purchases\Amber water pot\clean images\For website\A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides

A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides

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This is a particularly elegant carved Chinese amber water pot, with chi dragons scaling the rim.
Chi dragons made their appearance in bronzes and jades during the warring states period. Chi dragons of this form were popular during the later Ming & early Qing periods and similar ones can be seen on Huanghuali furniture from the same era. The carving on this piece is lively and fluid with fine details.  As a water dragon it dwells in ponds waiting for its time to come when it can soar into the skies as an adult dragon.  This eventually came to symbolize performing great deeds which is how it became associated with the scholar preparing for the imperial exams. As the chi dragon will one day fly into the sky, so too will the scholar one day transform into an important member of society. Water pots of this kind graced the scholars desk and were used to wet the brush and paper when doing calligraphy.

A 17th or 18th century finely carved Chinese amber water pot with chi dragons in high relief scaling the sides

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Description

SOLD

This is a particularly elegant carved Chinese amber water pot, with chi dragons scaling the rim.
Chi dragons made their appearance in bronzes and jades during the warring states period. Chi dragons of this form were popular during the later Ming & early Qing periods and similar ones can be seen on Huanghuali furniture from the same era. The carving on this piece is lively and fluid with fine details.  As a water dragon it dwells in ponds waiting for its time to come when it can soar into the skies as an adult dragon.  This eventually came to symbolize performing great deeds which is how it became associated with the scholar preparing for the imperial exams. As the chi dragon will one day fly into the sky, so too will the scholar one day transform into an important member of society. Water pots of this kind graced the scholars desk and were used to wet the brush and paper when doing calligraphy.
Amber has a long history in China dating back as far as the bronze age where it was found in the pits of Sanxingdui (approx. 1700 –1150 BC). It is referred to in ancient Han dynasty texts and in the Tang Dynasty, amber was compared to fine wine due to its attractive color and crystal clearness. The Liao and Jin Dynasties were one of the most prosperous eras for the development of amber art in China due to the opening of the Western Amber Road which introduced Baltic sea amber into China in the form of tribute sent via Central Asia. By the Ming and Qing dynasties most of the amber unearthed and processed was bright and uniform in color and without impurities. The amber substrate on this piece is very clear with few flaws.
Amber in China is generally categorized as one of these three colors (setting aside blue amber):
  • 血珀 Xuè pò meaning “blood amber”
  • 金珀 Jīn pò meaning “gold amber”
  • 蜡珀 Là pò meaning “wax colored amber” which tends to be a lighter yellow color.
China also has a long history of imitating amber using other materials.
If you look at the photos closely you will notice in several there are hairs stuck to the surface. This is because real amber has slight electrostatic properties.

References:

Additional information

Dynasty or Period

Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644)

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