Common sources such as Baidu refer to the motif of a peony flower head with two distinctive ‘horns’ as a characteristic feature unique to Chinese porcelain of the Kangxi period (1662–1722). As a matter of fact, the tradition can be traced back as early as a fan painting by the legendary Ming romantic artist Tang Yin (唐寅, 1470–1524).

Read more about Dr Yibin Ni’s research on this motif in this blog.

• Fig 1-2: teapot, Kangxi period (1662–1722), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

  Fig 3: famille verte plaque, Kangxi period (1662–1722), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the Jie Rui Tang Collection

  Fig 4: saucer dish, Kangxi period (1662–1722), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

  Fig 5: porcelain vase, Kangxi period (1662–1722), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

  Fig 6 & 7: covered jars, Kangxi period (1662–1722), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

  Fig 8: ovoid covered jar, Kangxi – Yongzheng (1662–1735), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

  Fig 9: covered jar, Kangxi – Yongzheng (1662–1735), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

  Fig 10: vase, Kangxi period (1662–1722), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

  Fig 11: vase, Kangxi period (1662–1722), Qing dynasty, courtesy of Minneapolis Institute of Art

  Fig 12: porcelain vase, early Qing dynasty, courtesy of Guimet Museum, Paris

  Fig 13: doucai porcelain moonflask, Yongzheng period (1723–35), Qing dynasty, courtesy of Shanghai Museum, China

  Fig 14: famille rose porcelain bowl, Yongzheng period (1723–35), Qing dynasty, courtesy of National Museums Scotland