Sabina Savage Zouyu, Cry The Deer Wool Silk Shawl 135 Clay & Bone

Zouyu, Cry The Deer was inspired by the legend of the zouyu, a mythical white tiger-like beast with a gentle, herbivorous nature. The benevolent, vegetarian, and virtuous zouyu only appears when a sagacious ruler reigns and a sighting is an auspicious omen. The design title was inspired by the ancient poem, Yu, Yu, Cry The Deer. Within this design, the protagonist absentmindedly feasts on the rare and precious Peaches of Immortality, while the soft, quiet fawn blends unnoticed into the fallen fruit. The nature of the beast and the fate of the fawn are open to the viewers discretion; herbivorous zouyu, or ferocious white tiger? An empty porcelain vase represents peace, while, like the main subject, a tiny jade tiger ornament faces west. Strategically placed cinnabar seals identify the artist and the provenance of the work while balancing the composition. Knots and bows represent a rebus; tying each symbolism and metaphor together as one. Sabina Savage is noted in a traditional, calligraphy-style brush script.