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Chinese Porcelain Pillow

Chinese ceramic pillows originate from the Tang dynasty (618-906AD) with a vast array of shapes and designs available. Most ceramic pillows were box shaped, whilst others were elaborately designed in the form of animals, flowers or fans. This pillow from the Qing dynasty, has lotus scrolls painted across the main areas, with an underglaze of cobalt blue, whilst the ends are decorated with hawthorn scrolls, painted in famille rose enamels.

Upper class and royalty used porcelain pillows, placing a cloth on the top of the porcelain for comfort, whilst lower classes used a wooden block. Porcelain pillow production reached the zenith during the Song Dynasty period and was a symbol of elegance and c...

Qing Dynasty, 19th century
Porcelain
625.45.15
Image and text © Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, 2021

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