Cushion

UV checked! In good condition!

Headrest in the shape of a reclining cat
China, Qing Dynasty, late 19th century
Porcelain stoneware with lead glaze.
Decor of grand feu painted under glaze. Circular iron oxide stains
Height: 18 cm x Length 35 cm x Width 12 cm.

This utilitarian and symbolic object takes the form of a massive feline, rendered in a naturalistic and robust style.
The animal is shown at rest, the forepaws folded. The back offers a slightly concave surface, ergonomically designed to support the sleeper's neck.
The chromatic contrast is striking. On a milky cream-white background, the artisan applied broad brown ocelli evoking the coat of a domestic cat. The face is expressive with the eyes in relief, the ears erect and the whiskers finely traced with the brush, giving it an almost living presence.
At the base, a thick plinth, outlined by a dark glaze with metallic reflections, stabilizes the piece and protects the main body from rubbing.

The use of the rigid headrest is ancient in China. It serves major functions:

- Ceramic helps preserve a sense of freshness indispensable during scorching summers.
- It allowed sleeping without crushing elaborate chignons, signs of social status.
- The cat is the ultimate nocturnal predator. By lending its form to the pillow, it becomes a spiritual guardian capable of driving away nightmares (taken to be spiritual rats) and warding off evil spirits during the sleep’s vulnerability.

Condition: Remarkable freshness of the glaze. Natural firing marks under the base.
Provenance: Kanaka The Collection - Portugal
Sent with UPS and insured