Period:Yuan dynasty Production date:1330-1368 (circa)
Materials:porcelain
Technique:glazed, underglazed,
Subjects:flower flaming jewel bamboo lotus mammal
Dimensions:Diameter: 10.90 centimetres Height: 07.70 centimetres
Description:
Lobed round box and cover decorated in underglaze blue. This six-lobed box has a deep base which tapers towards a narrow unglazed base; its cover has sloping sides and a flat top. It is painted in underglaze blue cobalt with a design of a figure dressed in trousers and a loose surcoat and carrying a lotus bud. The figure is placed in an idealized landscape with auspicious plants such as bamboo and lingzhi growing around. Bordering this scene are six lozenge-shaped panels containing auspicious elements, including a flaming pearl, lingzhi, a pair of rhinoceros horns, and a chrysanthemum. Below this around the edge of the cover is a band of classic scroll. The tray of the box is painted with a band of daylilies and below this with lotus lappets. The base is unglazed.
IMG
![图片[1]-box BM-1947-0712.168-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Yuan dynasty/Ceramics/mid_00262393_001.jpg)
![图片[2]-box BM-1947-0712.168-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Yuan dynasty/Ceramics/mid_01219547_001.jpg)
![图片[3]-box BM-1947-0712.168-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Yuan dynasty/Ceramics/mid_01219551_001.jpg)
![图片[4]-box BM-1947-0712.168-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Yuan dynasty/Ceramics/mid_01219554_001.jpg)
![图片[5]-box BM-1947-0712.168-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Yuan dynasty/Ceramics/mid_01219555_001.jpg)
![图片[6]-box BM-1947-0712.168-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Yuan dynasty/Ceramics/mid_01219791_001.jpg)
Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:The figure may probably be identified as one of the Ba Xian (Eight Daoist Immortals), the androgynous He Xiangu whose attribute is a long-stemmed lotus bud. Figural decoration on Yuan porcelain is much rarer than designs of flowers, fruits, plants, animals or birds. Many of the figural designs may derive from printed manuals illustrating figures in contemporary Yuan dramas, novels or popular folklore. It is likely that the Yuan potters had some kind of woodblock-printed manual from which they copied designs or elements of designs on to the porcelain. Evidently they favoured motifs and figures with auspicious associations.Interestingly the shape of this box, which probably ultimately derives from silver ware, survives in lacquer: a Yuan lacquer box decorated in qiangjin, given by Sir Harry and Lady Garner to the British Museum (BM 1976.5-17.1), is fashioned in the same shape. Boxes were used for a range of sweetmeats as well as to present gifts and to store incense or cosmetics in the Yuan era.
Materials:porcelain
Technique:glazed, underglazed,
Subjects:flower flaming jewel bamboo lotus mammal
Dimensions:Diameter: 10.90 centimetres Height: 07.70 centimetres
Description:
Lobed round box and cover decorated in underglaze blue. This six-lobed box has a deep base which tapers towards a narrow unglazed base; its cover has sloping sides and a flat top. It is painted in underglaze blue cobalt with a design of a figure dressed in trousers and a loose surcoat and carrying a lotus bud. The figure is placed in an idealized landscape with auspicious plants such as bamboo and lingzhi growing around. Bordering this scene are six lozenge-shaped panels containing auspicious elements, including a flaming pearl, lingzhi, a pair of rhinoceros horns, and a chrysanthemum. Below this around the edge of the cover is a band of classic scroll. The tray of the box is painted with a band of daylilies and below this with lotus lappets. The base is unglazed.
IMG
Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:The figure may probably be identified as one of the Ba Xian (Eight Daoist Immortals), the androgynous He Xiangu whose attribute is a long-stemmed lotus bud. Figural decoration on Yuan porcelain is much rarer than designs of flowers, fruits, plants, animals or birds. Many of the figural designs may derive from printed manuals illustrating figures in contemporary Yuan dramas, novels or popular folklore. It is likely that the Yuan potters had some kind of woodblock-printed manual from which they copied designs or elements of designs on to the porcelain. Evidently they favoured motifs and figures with auspicious associations.Interestingly the shape of this box, which probably ultimately derives from silver ware, survives in lacquer: a Yuan lacquer box decorated in qiangjin, given by Sir Harry and Lady Garner to the British Museum (BM 1976.5-17.1), is fashioned in the same shape. Boxes were used for a range of sweetmeats as well as to present gifts and to store incense or cosmetics in the Yuan era.
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