Quail box

1736 - 95

The quail is often an emblem of courage in Chinese art, due to its fierce nature and fighting prowess. Curiously, however, because the first Chinese character of its name sounds like the word for peace, it is often recognized as a symbol of harmonious existence, and a pair of quails expresses the wish for a doubling of peaceful prospects.

Nephrite

2 1/8 x 2 13/16 x 1 11/16 in. (5.4 x 7.15 x 4.29 cm)

Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection

33.71.2

Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Live Long and Prosper: Auspicious Motifs in East Asian Art, May 23, 2009 - February 21, 2010

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