Vintage Soapstone Carving of a Phoenix and PeoniesSoapstone is one of the favorite medium of stone carvers. The softness of the rock is easier to carve resulting in fanciful and elaborate carvings. This mustard color rock features a phoenix with trailing tail feathers standing in front of large peony blossoms, and craggy rocks form the background. The carving is supported by a brown soapstone base. The phoenix is the emblem of the empress and the peony is queen of all flowers in China. Together they

I have no idea

The inside painting is a traditional Chinese painting of the Southern School with rivers and streams

Both required good eyesight and precision work

that someone has put together sometime ago

Rocks and chrysanthemums are among the favorite themes of Chinese artist scholars and the chrysanthemums has remained a symbol for the beloved poet Tao Yuanming who wrote a poem extolling the simple beauty of chrysanthemums over a showy peonies

like most bottles made after 1970

Eleven for health

In the foreground is a Sudhana

The banded specimens are formed by massive

which led to political unrest by Japanese invasion which interrupted teapot productions

cut from the shoulder to the base

They brought the secrets of the famous glazes and their descendents continued their pottery making and it continues to flourish today in the town of Shiwan