Cloud-Collar Pillow with Waves

This ceramic pillow in the form of a cloud—a design pattern variously referred to as ruyi, the shape of a head of an auspicious scepter—is a fine example of qingbai ware from Jiangxi province. It has a pure white body covered with a transparent, glassy glaze that carries a faint greenish tinge, thus giving it another name, yingqing, or "shadow blue." On the surface of the pillow is a carved and incised design of repeating wave patterns. The beauty of this piece lies in its elegance of form, simplicity of design, and delicacy of workmanship.