Large Chinese Underglaze Copper Red Jar. Chinese porcelain jar with copper underglaze depicting a five-toed imperial dragon on bowl. Marked on base.

Size: 9 1/2 x 13 1/2 x 13 1/2 in.

In Chinese art, imperial dragons symbolize authority, cosmic order, and the emperor’s divine mandate to rule, serving as emblems of power from the Han dynasty onward. Typically depicted as long, sinuous, scaled creatures with four or five claws, they embody strength, wisdom, and control over water, rain, and fertility. By the Ming and Qing dynasties, strict regulations dictated their representation: the five-clawed dragon was reserved exclusively for the emperor, while four-clawed versions could be used by princes and high officials. Dragons adorned imperial robes, porcelain, architecture, and ritual objects, often shown chasing a flaming pearl that represented enlightenment or the vital force of the cosmos. Their dynamic, cloud-entwined forms reinforced the image of the emperor as the “Son of Heaven,” bridging the human realm and celestial order.

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