KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)

Pairs of ducks are associated with fidelity and harmony. In Designs as Signs: Decoration and Chinese Ceramics, Percival David Foundation, London, 2001, Stacey Pierson explains that pairs of mandarin ducks, yuan yang, represent marital fidelity or harmony as they are said to mate for life. In association with lotus, which is homophonous with the word for harmony (he), they can represent a wish for sons.