Period:Ming dynasty Production date:1567-1572
Materials:porcelain
Technique:glazed, underglazed,
Subjects:child garden reading/writing
Dimensions:Height: 12 centimetres Length: 30 centimetres Width: 20 centimetres
Description:
Rectangular porcelain box without a cover with underglaze blue decoration. This rectangular box, missing its cover, is made of thick heavy porcelain. Each of the four sides is painted with a figural scene. On the first side a man is shown seated on a rectangular stool, holding a cassia spray in his right hand, beneath a spreading pine tree. Three ladies attend him, holding writing equipment – an ink stick and slab. Three boys play with toys beside them, one with a windmill, another with a whip. A man and his wife, accompanied by two children and two servants, are shown on the following face. On the next side two figures are depicted seated on a dais, one holding a fan. They are approached by a servant carrying a child on her back, by three boys, one clasping a fan, and by another servant bringing a dulcimer and its cover. On the final side is a procession with a child and also a servant holding a cassia spray, a child carrying a peach, a servant carrying a flower vase and a child riding a hobby horse. The base is unglazed, except for a central circular depression which is marked in underglaze blue with a six-character Longqing reign mark in a double ring.
IMG
![图片[1]-box(without cover) BM-Franks.302.+-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Ming dynasty/Ceramics/mid_00266499_001.jpg)
Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:’One Hundred Children’ is a theme which appears on a range of decorative objects – ceramics, lacquer wares and jades – as well as in paintings. In Confucian philosophy, popular throughout the Ming, many children, but particularly many sons, were essential for the fulfilment of family and ancestral duties, rites and ceremonies. Illustrations of ‘One Hundred Children’ represent a desire for fertility, wealth and happiness. The cassia is a symbol of scholastic success.A smaller intact rectangular box with its lid, also with a Longqing mark and of the period, with decoration of adults and children at leisure, is in the Idemitsu Museum collection. From this box we can deduce that the British Museum example would have had a shallow cover about a third of the height of the box tray with a flat top. The Idemitsu Museum cover is decorated with dragons around the sides and on top with a cartouche containing figures, surrounded by diaper and plants.
Materials:porcelain
Technique:glazed, underglazed,
Subjects:child garden reading/writing
Dimensions:Height: 12 centimetres Length: 30 centimetres Width: 20 centimetres
Description:
Rectangular porcelain box without a cover with underglaze blue decoration. This rectangular box, missing its cover, is made of thick heavy porcelain. Each of the four sides is painted with a figural scene. On the first side a man is shown seated on a rectangular stool, holding a cassia spray in his right hand, beneath a spreading pine tree. Three ladies attend him, holding writing equipment – an ink stick and slab. Three boys play with toys beside them, one with a windmill, another with a whip. A man and his wife, accompanied by two children and two servants, are shown on the following face. On the next side two figures are depicted seated on a dais, one holding a fan. They are approached by a servant carrying a child on her back, by three boys, one clasping a fan, and by another servant bringing a dulcimer and its cover. On the final side is a procession with a child and also a servant holding a cassia spray, a child carrying a peach, a servant carrying a flower vase and a child riding a hobby horse. The base is unglazed, except for a central circular depression which is marked in underglaze blue with a six-character Longqing reign mark in a double ring.
IMG
![图片[1]-box(without cover) BM-Franks.302.+-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Ming dynasty/Ceramics/mid_00266499_001.jpg)
Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:’One Hundred Children’ is a theme which appears on a range of decorative objects – ceramics, lacquer wares and jades – as well as in paintings. In Confucian philosophy, popular throughout the Ming, many children, but particularly many sons, were essential for the fulfilment of family and ancestral duties, rites and ceremonies. Illustrations of ‘One Hundred Children’ represent a desire for fertility, wealth and happiness. The cassia is a symbol of scholastic success.A smaller intact rectangular box with its lid, also with a Longqing mark and of the period, with decoration of adults and children at leisure, is in the Idemitsu Museum collection. From this box we can deduce that the British Museum example would have had a shallow cover about a third of the height of the box tray with a flat top. The Idemitsu Museum cover is decorated with dragons around the sides and on top with a cartouche containing figures, surrounded by diaper and plants.
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