A Chinese porcelain doucai 'dragon and phoenix' lantern handle, late Daoguang, Qing dynasty, painted in underglaze blue and overglaze enamels with a dragon and phoenix amid clouds, each end terminating in a dragon with a flaming pearl in its mouth, and a phoenix, 39.5cm long Notes: The phrase ‘long feng cheng xiang (????)’, which translates as ‘Dragon and Phoenix bring Auspiciousness’, is a good luck wish that is given during wedding ceremonies. The central depiction here of the dragon and phoenix, a motif often used to represent the Emperor and Empress, is one that depicts harmony and bliss; the phoenix embodies the warmth of the sun and helps to produce male offspring. These two auspicious symbols combine to represent marital harmony and good omen, and therefore objects with this motif are often given as wedding gifts.

No chips cracks or signs of restoration