Period:Ming dynasty Production date:1573-1620 (circa)
Materials:earthenware
Technique:glazed, carved,
Subjects:flaming jewel dragon
Dimensions:Diameter: 50 centimetres Height: 17.50 centimetres
Description:
Large earthenware basin with carved and glazed decoration. This large earthenware basin has a flat base and straight sides flaring out to a broad upturned rim, finished with an unusual upright band with thickened scored edges. Designs are carved inside, and the background cut away, creating raised pictures and patterns which are covered with green and amber glazes, while the contrasting ground is covered with a transparent glaze and has fired brick red. Areas where the ill-fitting glaze has flaked off reveal a buff-coloured slip. Framed by a pair of drawn curtains, the theatrical scene carved inside shows a bearded figure, holding a tally in his left hand, seated on a throne behind a table covered with a cloth. He is flanked by male figures wearing long robes and winged hats. In the foreground, seated to the right, is a bearded figure holding a fan and wearing a hat decorated on the crown with a ‘yin-yang’ symbol. He turns to face a man who is removing his long civil robe, revealing beneath a military costume with epaulettes and armour. In the cavetto two horned dragons, with whiskers, scaly bodies, fish tails and chicken legs, pursue flaming pearls among garlanded ‘ruyi’ clouds, with borders of a chain design above and below. In the rim, echoing sixteenth- and seventeenth-century ‘kraak’-type wares, are four floral cartouches with cash diaper and combed designs in between.
IMG
![图片[1]-basin BM-1984-0127.2-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Ming dynasty/43/mid_00251316_001.jpg)
Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:Outside the basin is only partially covered with a green glaze. It is likely therefore that it was not made to be seen from the exterior. It may have fitted inside a wooden furniture stand which hid this imperfection. Such a stand for a large brazier is in the Dr S. Y. Yip collection. Rather than being used as a brazier, it is likely this large basin was used to hold water. The design appears to relate to woodblock-print illustrations of popular plays and novels, but so far the scene is unidentified. As today, in Ming China court-room dramas were especially popular subjects. Clever magistrates appear in a number of popular stories of the period. Indeed, in many stories a wise magistrate is the main protagonist. He was a surrogate for the emperor and therefore represented the highest civil authority in the district. It was one of his primary duties to administer law and order. In a criminal case, the magistrate had to bring the offender to book, conduct the trial and pronounce the sentence. He could rely on underlings, secretaries and constables to make local enquiries, procure witness statements and arrest suspects, but could also leave his court incognito to pursue his own investigations, rather like the Duke in Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure”. Being an official post holder was generally a profitable business.
Materials:earthenware
Technique:glazed, carved,
Subjects:flaming jewel dragon
Dimensions:Diameter: 50 centimetres Height: 17.50 centimetres
Description:
Large earthenware basin with carved and glazed decoration. This large earthenware basin has a flat base and straight sides flaring out to a broad upturned rim, finished with an unusual upright band with thickened scored edges. Designs are carved inside, and the background cut away, creating raised pictures and patterns which are covered with green and amber glazes, while the contrasting ground is covered with a transparent glaze and has fired brick red. Areas where the ill-fitting glaze has flaked off reveal a buff-coloured slip. Framed by a pair of drawn curtains, the theatrical scene carved inside shows a bearded figure, holding a tally in his left hand, seated on a throne behind a table covered with a cloth. He is flanked by male figures wearing long robes and winged hats. In the foreground, seated to the right, is a bearded figure holding a fan and wearing a hat decorated on the crown with a ‘yin-yang’ symbol. He turns to face a man who is removing his long civil robe, revealing beneath a military costume with epaulettes and armour. In the cavetto two horned dragons, with whiskers, scaly bodies, fish tails and chicken legs, pursue flaming pearls among garlanded ‘ruyi’ clouds, with borders of a chain design above and below. In the rim, echoing sixteenth- and seventeenth-century ‘kraak’-type wares, are four floral cartouches with cash diaper and combed designs in between.
IMG
Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:Outside the basin is only partially covered with a green glaze. It is likely therefore that it was not made to be seen from the exterior. It may have fitted inside a wooden furniture stand which hid this imperfection. Such a stand for a large brazier is in the Dr S. Y. Yip collection. Rather than being used as a brazier, it is likely this large basin was used to hold water. The design appears to relate to woodblock-print illustrations of popular plays and novels, but so far the scene is unidentified. As today, in Ming China court-room dramas were especially popular subjects. Clever magistrates appear in a number of popular stories of the period. Indeed, in many stories a wise magistrate is the main protagonist. He was a surrogate for the emperor and therefore represented the highest civil authority in the district. It was one of his primary duties to administer law and order. In a criminal case, the magistrate had to bring the offender to book, conduct the trial and pronounce the sentence. He could rely on underlings, secretaries and constables to make local enquiries, procure witness statements and arrest suspects, but could also leave his court incognito to pursue his own investigations, rather like the Duke in Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure”. Being an official post holder was generally a profitable business.
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