A lobed edges cup painted with underglaze blue on a white background with vegetal motifs and central medallion with Qilin admist waves and clouds. This cup is inspired by Ming blue and white pottery both in the decoration and in the six-character Xuande (1426-1435) mark at the base.
The qilin is a mythological creature regarded as the noblest of the living beings that walk the earth, according to the Chinese tradition. It is a sort of chimera equipped with a bizarre horn, and its natural dual nature is considered to be able to make coexist the male and female components within the same body.
Similarly to the fate of the unicorn in the Western tradition, the Qilin is believed to live a thousand years and to bring peace and well-being to the lands where it resides. It is the true symbol of the Good.
The qilin, together with the dragon and the phoenix, is placed at the top of the hierarchical pyramid
of living creatures.