This is a birdhouse as described and pictured by Jane Wilson in her 1977 booklet on page 56. It appears to be made of the same material as ginger jars. Jane says there are people on the bridge (bridge not shown in picture), has the signiture of the artist (not shown) and was not for the American market. It was hung by cords and has a tassel.

Fish are one of the forms that many Canton collectors have in their collections. Of course, they are not in the Canton pattern and we are not even sure they are Chinese. Many people think they are Japanese. In any event, here is a selection of 7 fish. Even their use is in question. Were they sauce and condiment dishes or for fish bones. One theory is that they were for chop sticks, the stick’s ends were placed inside and the V tails held the rest of the sticks. Hopefully they were not ash trays!

They range in size from 4 1/2″ long to 7 3/8″ long. The largest one we have seen has gold highlights on the scales and colorful flowers inside. The scales of all the fish are molded on the top sides and especially on the bottom sides. The smaller fish are fairly common but the largest with gilt is very scarce.

Recently seen for the first time, is a second type of fish closely related to the more common fish described above. This single fish shown in the last 3 pictures is smaller but has the same moulded fish scales and seems to have been made by the same people. This example has a useful handle and the mouth is turned upwards. Might this be a small cream pitcher or tooth pick holder? It has a 2 5/8″ diameter and is 3″ high. A rare and very interesting addition to the “Non-Canton” Canton Gallery.

Ginger jars are common and although they are, of course, not in the typical Canton pattern there are many Canton collectors who have them in their collections. Grayish in color they are simply decorated. The large jar that was converted into a lamp is much more refined. There are no rain cloud borders or bridges on either jars pictured here. As Jane Wilson says of water or rum bottles: “The decoration is often blurred and of the same quality as many late ginger jars.” She said this on page 40 of her 1977 booklet.

These ginger jar examples are quite attractive. The jars’ side rims are unglazed, and the top’s inside rim is also unglazed. There are bottom rims and the bottoms are glazed.

We have included 3 pictures which show a very interesting, tiny, 3 7/8″ high Ginger Jar which actually still holds its original Ginger contents! The jar is quite dark from age, is enclosed in its original wicker basket and has a cork in the top. The second picture shows the top on the left with a paper label and on the right is the jar with the cork. The third picture shows the bottoms of the top and jar. The label and an accompanying paper reads: “Specially Manufactured for United States of America by Cheloong, Canton, China”. The only decoration on the jar are two encircling lines in faint blue.

The last picture shows another tiny, 4 1/8″ high Ginger Jar which is very nicely decorated. The soup can is 4″ high.

This is a chamber pot as described and pictured by Jane Wilson in her 1977 booklet on page 57. It appears to be made of the same material as ginger jars. Jane says they were like a pewter form, were used in the English bed steps and are a rare form.

This is a mustard pot as described and pictured by Jane Wilson in her 1977 booklet on page 16. It is topless and appears to be made of the same material as ginger jars.