GINGER JAR

covered porcelain jar made in China and believed to be filled with candy, ginger, or tea and given as a gift during the Chinese New Year celebration. The contents of the jar were kept by its recipient; the jar was returned to its owner. The body is globular and tapers somewhat at the base. Especially noteworthy are Ch'ing dynasty ginger jars of the period of the emperor K'ang-hsi (reigned 16621722) with their prunus blossom decoration reserved in white against an uneven blue ground.