What Is a Ginger Jar Lamp?

Ginger Jar History

• Authentic ginger jars are porcelain, and the bulbous body of the jar is hand-painted. The wide-mouth, dome-lid containers became popular in the Qin Dynasty of China -- 221 through 207 B.C. Some are seen in museums but often are without the lid. Later century ginger jars still can be found in antique shops but, because they are made of porcelain, they often are chipped.

Purpose

• Ginger jars originally were used to store food -- usually salt, spices and herbs, such as preserved ginger, which, at the time, was rare. The jars, filled with something special, also were given as gifts. Two centuries ago mass-production of the jars began. They were used as decorations; some were converted into lamps.

Design

• Ginger jar paintings sometimes tell a story, while others are abstract or bear Chinese characters. Different color jars held special meaning, as did their symbols, and were given as gifts. Red jars were a wish for the recipient's happiness. White, with symbols of fertility and prosperity, were for weddings and usually were painted with a dragon and phoenix. Blue-and-white jars were popular in the Yuan Dynasty and represent happiness. Emperors were given yellow jars. Some ginger jars had carved porcelain overlay in addition to the painting, giving them more dimension.

Lamps

• Today's ginger jar lamps are made from ceramic, which is much sturdier than porcelain. The shape and color has remained the same, and the paintings, which can be seen from all angles, often will include Chinese characters. Because the ginger jars no longer hold spices and herbs, they sometimes are constructed of a ceramic lattice work.

Lampshade

• The shades used on ginger jar lamps almost always are the same style, adopting the roof line shape of a traditional pagoda. The opening at the top is square rather than round. Because the lamp, itself, is highly styled, the shade is plain silk -- in white or cream.