Chinese Porcelain Wrist Rest Celadon Glazed Fruit Butterfly Antique 19th C

Chinese celadon ( 青瓷 ) green glazed porcelain wrist rest with scroll ends, an antique item dating from the mid 19th century during the Qing ( 清代 ) dynasty. Chinese calligraphy is traditionally written vertically, from right to left and from top to bottom. A wrist rest is used to to prevent the ink being smeared by a wrist or a sleeve. The top surface of this antique porcelain wrist rest ( 古董瓷腕托 ) has been decorated with carved white porcelain tree branches with hanging fruit and a butterfly in a low relief design, this contrasts beautifully with the celadon green ground. 

The tree branches with spiky skinned fruit may possibly be depictions of Lychee (荔枝 LÌ ZHĪ) or Durian (榴莲 LIÚ LIÁN ). Alternatively they also may possibly be representations of the pomegranate (石榴 shíliu) . Historically pomegranates were considered an emblem of fertility and numerous progeny. This symbolism is a pun on the Chinese character 子 (zǐ) which, as well as meaning seed, also means "offspring" thus a fruit containing so many seeds is a sign of fecundity.

This antique porcelain wrist rest is in excellent antique condition with some tiny glaze bubbles, and glaze rubbing to the edges, this is all insignificant but mentioned for complete accuracy.  This is a beautiful item to add to any collection of Chinese celadon glazed wares, greenwares, scholar's items or antique Chinese porcelain,

Free UK and international postage with this item.

Length  3 3/4 inch ( 9.5 cm)
Height  3/4 inch ( 1.8 cm)
Width 2 inches ( 2.5 cm)
Weight 102 grammes unpacked