White jade three sheep holding pot

[White Jade Sanyang Holding Pot]

White Jade Sanyang Holding Pot, clear, with a height of 10.2 cm, a caliber of 8.2 cm, and a foot diameter of 6.5 cm
The white jade texture of the holding pot is as white as the congealed fat. The pot body is round. The handle is carved on one side of the abdomen, and the head of the sheep is embossed on the other side. The head of the sheep is raised and the mouth is opened. The mouth is the mouth of the pot, and the two corners at the back of the head are connected with the pot body. Two sheep heads are embossed on the shoulder of the pot. There are round buttons on the top of the cover
Jade holding pots are important furnishings of the Qing court, with many styles. The artistic modeling and decorative patterns of combining three sheep were very popular in the Qing Dynasty. In addition to jade, ceramics, bronzes and paintings are often decorated with sanyang, commonly known as “sanyang kaitai”. In ancient times, “sheep” communicated with “yang”. According to the “Book of Changes”, “the first month is a divination, and the three yang were born under the sun.” Later generations, because of the homonym of “yang” and “sheep”, used the three sheep to describe the three yang, taking the winter to go, the spring to come, and the yin to dissipate, and the yang to grow. It has the image of auspicious fortune, and is mostly used in the words of congratulation at the beginning of the year.

白玉三羊执壶壶嘴