Vase
1573-1620 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This double gourd shaped vase has a flattened back to allow it to be fixed on to a wall. This type of vase emerged during the Wanli period and is commonly found in the form of a double gourd or a ribbed melon. The upper section of this vase is decorated with a landscape scene and the lower section with Daoist figures. Both the double gourd shape and the Daoist figures illustrate the strong influence and importance of Daoism in 17th century Chinese society.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Porcelain painted in underglaze blue |
| Brief description | Vase, porcelain painted in underglaze blue, China (Jingdezhen), Ming dynasty, Wanli mark and period (1573-1620) |
| Physical description | Vase of porcelain. Double-gourd shaped of semicircular section, flattened at the back; spreading foot painted with cloud-scroll arabesques and straight neck with a bird and cloud scrolls, painted on the upper part with a landscape with water, rocks, trees and birds; on the lower with a man, seated on a throne, holding a ruyi sceptre and attended by courtiers, some wearing horned headdresses; round the middle a border of stylised lotus-foliage on a winding stem. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'da ming Wanli nian zhi' in a painted panel surmounted by a bell-shaped canopy and a stylised lotus-flower below, in underglaze blue
|
| Credit line | Given by Mr R. Arnold |
| Production | Register |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This double gourd shaped vase has a flattened back to allow it to be fixed on to a wall. This type of vase emerged during the Wanli period and is commonly found in the form of a double gourd or a ribbed melon. The upper section of this vase is decorated with a landscape scene and the lower section with Daoist figures. Both the double gourd shape and the Daoist figures illustrate the strong influence and importance of Daoism in 17th century Chinese society. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.860-1922 |
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| Record created | June 25, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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