Prunus Vase with Blue-and-White Painting of "Having Surplus Every Year" and Designs of Fish and Algae

This Prunus Vase with Blue-and-White Painting of "Having Surplus Every Year" and Designs of Fish and Algae is embellished with emerald-green lotus pond and luxuriant water weeds in the design on the belly. A carp and a catfish are depicted among the lotus roots, which are vivid and lifelike and bestowed with the implication of "having surplus every year". Fish and algae designs prevailed in the entire ceramic development history from the Neolithic Age to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Fish designs mainly cover mackerel, Spanish mackerel, carp, crucian (crucian carp), mandarin fish, catfish and silver carp. Since "fish" is homophonic with "surplus" in Chinese, it implies "wealthy and sufficient" and "having more to spend or having surplus every year". Fish becomes an auspicious design standing for prosperity and wealth, which is deeply favored by the people. Fish designs are usually set off by the design of lotus flowers, water weeds and water waves based on the implication of relevant homophonic phrases and reflect people's yearning for good fortune.