Chinese Porcelain Vase, Late 19th Century

On a blue background, deep as the night, two dragons fight over the sacred pearl. The subject is not new but it is admirably treated here. The two dragons, masters of water and sky, make their long white bodies meander between clouds and friezes of ruyi, playing at seizing this pearl that grants all wishes. Who will take the pearl? Whether it is one or the other of the two dragons, it will guarantee the balance of the cosmos, achieving the symbiosis of the elements. A delicate metaphor for wisdom, the pearl is always disputed and never possessed. A vase in perfect condition that offers something to meditate on!