The bird stands facing to the left, with detachable wings forming the cover of an incense burner. It has a grey body with cloisons imitating feathers in black, the longer feathers being in blue, yellow, aubergine, iron-red and turquoise. Its beak and legs are in gilt-bronze.

Major Duberly writes: “The quail is an emblem of courage on account of its pugnacious character and owing to its ragged appearance is also a symbol of poverty”.

Literature: Anthony du Boulay, The Duberly Collection of Chinese Art at Winchester College (Winchester, 2019), p. 129

Provenance: Bequeathed as part of the Duberly Collection, 1978; purchased by Major Montagu and Lady Eileen Duberly from John Sparks, 15 June 1961 (£95)

Location: Treasury, Gallery 2