12. Glazed slip-decorated ‘cat and butterfly’ stoneware pillow

Northern Song - Jin dynasty, 12^th - 13^th century
Cizhou, probably Guantai kilns, Hebei province
Height: 18.4cm
Width: 31.0cm
 
The curved surface of this ceramic pillow provides the perfect blank canvas for this striking and playful scene of a pet cat toying with a butterfly. It is in fact produced by an extremely labour-intensive method in which black slip was applied over white slip on the pillow surface and then part of the black slip was cut away leaving the decoration in reserve. The combination of a cat with a butterfly also represents an auspicious wish for longevity.