An unusual early antique Chinese Tz'u Chou pillow, in glazed ceramic with painted glazed vases of flowers at each flat end, approx. 11-7/8"W x 6-1/4"H x 6-1/2"W, with an arched form sloping to the middle. The pottery pillow, or chen, is defined as an oblong rectangular form, generally being slightly concave on the top. It's earliest origins are found among Tang Dynasty tomb articles, but they were also for use in daily Chinese life. Traditionally, it was believed that a pillow made of ceramic would preserve a person's sight well into old age. Some were made from other materials, but most were hard surfaced. Tz'u Chow refers to the pottery center where this sort of glaze originated; characterized by designs that were painted in a brown slip under a translucent, minutely crazed glaze.
600/800 Sold $431.25
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