This large, stoneware pot, decorated with two striking dragons, was originally used to store preserved eggs and later transformed into a jardinière or planter. The awe-inspiring dragon permeates Chinese history, folklore, religion, and art and ranks highest in the Chinese animal hierarchy. The mythical, bearded creature breathes fog or rain, and it dwells in mountains, lakes, rivers, and the sky.
A master of transformation, the dragon has the power to make itself invisible at any time and can also reduce its size as small as a silkworm or expand in size so great that it fills up the skies. Historically, China’s agricultural population revered the dragon because of its alleged ability to bring rain and plentiful harvests.
Special thank you to Sally Yu Leung and Guangzhen Zhou for making this exhibition possible, and to Dr. William Ma, Assistant Professor, College of Art & Design, Louisiana State University, for his curatorial contributions.
See "Everyday Elegance in Chinese Ceramics" on display, pre-security, in the Mayor Edwin M. Lee International Terminal Departures Hall and online at: https://bit.ly/Chinese-Ceramics
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醃蛋陶甕
Preserved egg storage jar c. 1980s
Shandong province, China
stoneware, glaze
Collection of Sally Yu Leung
L2024.0301.030
SFO Museum