1-233-464 - The Museum of East Asian Art/Heritage Images

White glazed shrine, Northern Song dynasty, China, 11th century. A shrine with a figure, possibly a Buddha, sitting inside a pavilion surrounded by a balustrade. The pavilion is reached by an arched bridge which together with the pavilion stands on a circular plinth. The pitched roof is decorated with a fish finial at each end and a flaming pearl finial in the centre. The piece is covered with a yellowish white glaze which also covers the base. The type of roof finials are Buddhist: the twin fish and flaming pearl found among the 8 Buddhist treasures. Fishes as shown at the end of the roof appear on a number of Song dynasty buildings.