Een Chinese blauw-witte 'Hai Wu Tian Shou 海屋添壽' yenyen vaas, Kangxi

H 45,5 cm

Condition: Broken and reglued on the rim, with a related hairline extending downwards and another extending horizontally to both sides.

The expression hai wu tian shou 海屋添壽, which translates as 'may the ancient house for storing changes bring the longevity', is an auspicious birthday message wishing the recipient a long and happy life. The legend of the Sea House Addition, alluded to in the central reserve, tells the story of a group of immortals who are discussing their ages. One of the immortals states 'Every time the sea dries up and becomes a land of mulberry fields, I place one chip in my house as a record. And I place another one when the land of mulberry fields changes back to become the sea. Now my house is full of chips. How old do you think I am?' These chips are markers used for keeping count, made of wood or bamboo, and the word chip (chou 壽) is a homophone for the word meaning longevity (shou 壽), therefore instilling the meaning of adding age or longevity.