|
|
|
I have in my possession a late Qing fencai teapot with drawing of strange looking fruits with grape-like leaves and vines. Apparently the motif is intended to convey the meaning of endless offspring. There are similar design but with gourd or mellon instead of the strange looking fruit. They share the same common characteristics of having many seeds symbolising fecundity and vines to convey endless.
|
|
|
Finally, the mystery is solved. It is actually a form of bitter gourd. The chinese called it Jing Lizhi [錦荔枝」或「癩葡蔔]. It is different from the elongated form which we are used to associate with bitter gourd. There is a company in China Wenzhou which sell seedlings and use the Jing Lizhi in it's promotional material. Please see below.
|
|
 |
There is a Qing Jade Jing Lizhi in the Taipei National museum. I enclose a photo below together with some photos of real Jing Lizhi and its flower.
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: NK Koh (13 Jan 2009)
