Model of a group of nuts and seeds in a basket thumbnail 1

Model of a group of nuts and seeds in a basket

Model
1650-1750 (made), early 20th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Model of a basket of nuts and seeds including a chestnut, water chestnut, walnut, water caltrop, dried lychee and peanuts, all realistically modelled in brown, red and buff clays, with touches of darker pigment. On the tiny lotus seed is the square seal 'He cun', which is one of the marks of the potter Chen Mingyuan, active in the early Qing period.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleModel of a group of nuts and seeds in a basket (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Red stoneware, hand modelled
Brief description
Yixing ware. Model of a group of nuts and seeds in a basket, colored stoneware clays, with mark of Chen Mingyuan, Yixing, China, 1650-1750 or early 20th century
Physical description
Model of a basket of nuts and seeds including a chestnut, water chestnut, walnut, water caltrop, dried lychee and peanuts, all realistically modelled in brown, red and buff clays, with touches of darker pigment. On the tiny lotus seed is the square seal 'He cun', which is one of the marks of the potter Chen Mingyuan, active in the early Qing period.
Dimensions
  • Length: 11.5cm
  • Width: 11.0cm
Style
Production typesmall batch
Marks and inscriptions
鶴邨 (Seal mark, alias of Chen Mingyuan)
Transliteration
He cun
Object history
With padded box, with label 'Chen Mingyuan woven cane'.

Historical significance: Chen Mingyuan excelled in making small naturalistic objects for the scholar's desk, and several loose nuts or groups of nuts are known. Nut teapots, using contrasting clays, are also common; but a basket of nuts by Chen has not previously been recorded.
Production
made with zisha clay; mould made
Subjects depicted
Bibliographic references
  • Kerr, Rose "Yixing Wares in the V&A" in Orientations, Vol. 14, No. 10; October 1983, Fig. 16.
  • 'Documentary Chinese Works of Art in Scholar's Taste', from catalogue for the exhibiton and sale at Sydney L. Moss Ltd., London, 1983, No. 87.
Collection
Accession number
FE.19-1983

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Record createdAugust 23, 2005
Record URL
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