White dragons in high relief entwine their sinuous bodies around each jardinière and their matching pedestals. Jardinières on matching stands were available in Europe as early as the first decade of the twentieth century, though it was rare to find them in porcelain. Resembling the Roman urn in form, this pair also reveals Chinese influence in its ornamentation, for the dragon was a cherished creature associated with power and Yang energy. This pair of jardinières was found in the house of Chew Joo Chiat, which was located at 246 Joo Chiat Road. A migrant from China who married a Peranakan woman, Chew gave his name to the area in Katong, Singapore when he permitted the construction of a public road through his private lands.
