Antique Porcelain Fish Bowls and Pots
Written 10 May , 2010
Civilizations in the past and up to the present continue to be wowed by the beauty and mystery of the of the ocean floor and sea life. Mankind has tried to recreate the world underneath with fish tanks lodged in the corners of the home. It usually does not just teem with a variety of fishes but a host of other sea creatures and plants as well.
In some, even man made sea scenarios are also present such as a ship wreck or a diving site complete with miniature human divers.
Prior to the advent of the now popular transparent glasses used as aquariums, people use no less than fine porcelain fish bowls and porcelain fish pots for the same purpose. These may not be as ingenious as today’s sea recreations but they did just fine then.
Today, these fine pieces may no longer be used popularly as such but they are popular collector’s items. These antique porcelain fish pots are sought after by antique enthusiasts. Most come in hand painted oriental designs reflecting the popularity of Chinese antique pieces.
The Chinese symbolism is also rich in reference to the fish and other sea life so it is no wonder that many Chinese porcelain pieces are sea-themed or river – themed. The word fish in Chinese sounds similar to their word for abundance and affluence. Thus, fish has come to symbolize wealth in the Chinese society.
Many Chinese keep gold fishes in their aquariums and ponds at homes and even in temples for obvious reasons. Another fish, the carp, is also used to represent good luck in business. A symbol with fish and a lotus blossom conveys the message “Year after year, may you live in a life of affluence”.
Many Chinese antique pieces then are in the form of porcelain fish. They may come as functional items such as an ash tray with a fish image, or plates with hand painted fish glazes. There are also numerous pieces that are just for display. An exciting piece is that of a carp transforming in to a dragon as it descends on a waterfall.
This is called “Yu Lung” in Chinese. Dragon is a symbol of triumph in Chinese, while carp represent a business or any venture, while the water fall can be taken to represent adversity. Thus this porcelain fish creation is actually a tale of adversity and success. In modern professional China, the “Yu Lung” is used as a symbol of passing an important examination.