A common motif in Ming and Qing dynasty porcelain decoration. The white-headed bird, similar in size to a sparrow, is also known as the Chinese bulbul. As it ages, its head turns white, symbolizing longevity in traditional culture. It was often used as a metaphor for a loving couple growing old together. Depicting a pair of these birds on porcelain expressed the wish for a lasting and harmonious marriage, symbolizing the hope that a couple would “remain devoted till their hair turns white.
