Royal Crown Derby Paperweight Imperial Panda. Gold Stop. Cert. Autograph. Box

  

Royal Crown Derby Imperial Panda. Please contact me via my listing if there's anything you'd like to discuss.

Stunning luxurious colours, thought-provoking piece. A base of white with shades of blue, orange, green, and gilded lavishly with 22-carat gold.

The panda is an endangered species found only in the mountainous eastern edge of west China. Despite numerous attempts at breeding programmes, these only meet with limited success. Pandas symbolise peace and are often gifted or loaned by China to other countries. The panda is the only remaining mammal from the Pleistocene period and is also nicknamed Living Fossil.

This particular piece is covered with symbolism. The front its bamboo food and clouds over mountains.

Its back symbolises the Imperial Emperor's relationship with Heaven showing 12 points for the months and order and structure, 7 for the Imperial Emperor and the stages of entry to Heaven with 5 dots on the head symbolising the five elements of Chinese philosophy; Water, Fire, Earth, Wood and Metal. The overall design on the back shows the tri-domed Temple of Heaven shape in Beijing. In the Imperial City, everything - steps, flag stones, door brasses, etc. Are in multiples of 7. In the Temple of Heaven, it is 3 and 4.

Autographed by Sue Rowe, designer. Gold stopper, original box and certificate.