Red Cinnabar Lacquer Phoenix and Peony Kang Table

Early Qing Dynasty Probably 17th Century

The rectangular top carved with flowering branches, two Phoenix birds and peonies, over the waisted pierced skirt, above a bulged, scalloped apron, on short cabriole legs ending in scroll feet.

H. 7 1/2 in., W. of top 30 in., D. of top 17 1/4 in.

Note: "The phoenix is the emperor of all birds, and like the qilin, it appears only in times of peace and prosperity. It is believed that the phoenix's appearance in China augers the emergence of an able ruler or the arrival of a great man, for it appeared when Confucius was born. The phoenix is the motif for the empress of China, ornamenting her crown as well as her clothing. The peony symbolizes prosperity, happy life, good luck, love, and rebirth of relationships and wealth. For a very long time, peonies were exclusively flowers of Chinese emperors. Together the Phoenix ('feng') and peony ('fuguihua') = may there be wealth, rank and good fortune ('fugui jixiang'. The phoenix dallying with the peony is an auspicious design ('fengxi mudan', 'fengchuan mudan'). When the king of birds is paired with the king of flowers, together they augur great blessings. Footnotes: Bartholomew, Terese Tse, Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, Ca 2006

Condition: Age appropriate losses and old repairs to feet and some minor chips to edge of top.