Posted 10 years ago
ATTWOOD
(155 items)
This lovely plate depicting pheasants and butterflies I bought today at a garage sale to resell.HMMM I think not.I will keep it.
gothberg says
BUTTERFLY
Considered in China as also a bird. Symbol of conjugal bliss, of joy and of summer. From its homophony with the Chinese word die meaning "the age of seventy or eighty", it is also an emblem of longevity. In Straits Chinese porcelain specifically, a pair of butterflies symbolizes the spirits of the forefathers. A butterfly or bird approaching a peony = a young man and the woman he loves.
Phoenix (Feng)
The Chinese phoenix, or feng huang, was the sacred bird of Chinese mythology and was generally depicted with similarity to an ornamental pheasant. The phoenix is belived to be the king of all birds and also a symbol of good fortune. It symbolizes the sun, fertility, abundant harvest, good luck and longevity.
As the second of Four Super Natural Creatures the phoenix has the head of a pheasant, the beak of a swallow, a long neck, multi-colored legs and the tail of a peacock. It is a messenger of the Daoist Immortals and according to ancient Chinese lore, the appearance of the phoenix on the wutong tree was a testament to the peaceful rule of a virtuous emperor.
Sometimes the phoenix is supposed to have two gender. The male bird is then called feng and the female huang.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties the Chinese phoenix was adopted as the symbol for the empress and charged with yin, the negative principle of the cosmos, while the dragon was selected as a symbol of the emperor and thought to be charged with yang, the positive principle of the cosmos.
No Makers Mark
Any help appreciated
The edges appear to be silver.
I am wondering if it may be a wedding gift.As the butterfly depicts man & woman in love & the phoenix good luck & longevity.
This was a deceased estate so no one new the history of it.
To me, it's not a Feng/Phoenix but sort of Chinese Golden Pheasant(?? Jin-Gee), usually associated with prosperity and fortune.
Check the Chinese painting depicting this bird.
http://pic13.nipic.com/20110412/5163008_221347656000_2.jpg
I can not get to the link Shrine.
i originally thought pheasant.
Love this!!