URING winter nights, most of us who are allergy free will, at some time, have been grateful to have had a cat curl up beside us on the bed. Perhaps there was a hint of that in the decoration on a 12th- or 13th-century Northern Song glazed stoneware pillow , one of the highlights of Eskenazi’s exhibition of 12th- to 14th-century Chinese ceramics, lacquer and gold that closed last month. It was painted with a cat and a butterfly in black-brown slip on a grey glaze ground. shape of the headrest also indicates that the user will have what they desire—that is to say, sleep. Unsurprisingly, it sold during the exhibition, although I am unable to tell you the price.
