Charger with a qilin, anonymous, c. 1350
This charger is painted with a qilin, a mythical beast. According to legend, a qilin has the scaly skin of a dragon, the body of a deer and the hooves and tail of an ox. It is a benign creature, which refrains from stepping on insects or eating live grass. The qilin possesses both male (qi) and female (lin) powers.
turning, h 7.2cm × d 45.7cm
http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/AK-RBK-1965-88
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