Dish
1644-1911 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Porcelain dish with decoration painted in underglaze blue. In the centre, a scene with five figures. On the right Xi Wang Mu mounted on an ox is seen descending a mountain path. She is accompanied by the five yu nü (Jade Girls) or shen nü (Fairy Maids). These five handmaidens correspond with the five points of the compass (centre included), their names being the colours attributed to the five points, wu fang. Two of the handmaidens walk on either side of the ox, Xi Wang Mu embracing them. The third walks immediately behind the ox, carrying a large fan. A little further behind, on the right, stand the remaining two, holding dishes of peaches. On the left, the roof of a palace emerging from clouds. In the foreground rocks and a tree. Xi Wang Mu descending from her abode in the Kunlun mountains to visit her votary and lover, the Emperor Wu Di.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Porcelain painted in underglaze blue |
| Brief description | Dish, porcelain painted in underglaze blue with Xi Wang Mu and her handmaidens, China, Qing dynasty (with Chenghua mark) |
| Physical description | Porcelain dish with decoration painted in underglaze blue. In the centre, a scene with five figures. On the right Xi Wang Mu mounted on an ox is seen descending a mountain path. She is accompanied by the five yu nü (Jade Girls) or shen nü (Fairy Maids). These five handmaidens correspond with the five points of the compass (centre included), their names being the colours attributed to the five points, wu fang. Two of the handmaidens walk on either side of the ox, Xi Wang Mu embracing them. The third walks immediately behind the ox, carrying a large fan. A little further behind, on the right, stand the remaining two, holding dishes of peaches. On the left, the roof of a palace emerging from clouds. In the foreground rocks and a tree. Xi Wang Mu descending from her abode in the Kunlun mountains to visit her votary and lover, the Emperor Wu Di. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Marks and inscriptions | Mark of Chenghua reign period within a double circle in underglaze blue |
| Production | Attribution date taken from the inventory record |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.294-1931 |
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| Record created | January 7, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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