Period:Ming dynasty Production date:1628-1644 (circa)
Materials:stoneware
Technique:glazed
Subjects:child fruit lotus
Dimensions:Height: 9 centimetres Length: 12 centimetres
Description:
A peach-shaped stoneware water dropper with a monochrome emerald-green glaze. This stoneware water dropper in the form of a peach has a curved spout, and a handle modelled as a small crouching boy holding a giant lotus bud. It was filled with water through an opening in the side concealed by the lotus bud.
IMG
![图片[1]-water-dropper BM-1924-0119.1-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Ming dynasty/Ceramics/mid_00272434_001.jpg)
Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:Such water droppers may have been used for adding water to ink for calligraphy or painting. A Ming scholar would have appreciated the boy-shaped handle and would have understood it as an archaistic feature referring back to Song dynasty ceramics and textiles. Objects with monochrome emerald-green glazes are rather rare in the Ming period but become more popular during the Qing era. A much larger blue-and-white peach-shaped ewer was recovered from the Hatcher wreck, datable to c. 1643 (see BM 1984.0303.11). However, that pot is much more skilfully modelled and the form of the peach less stylized and more naturalistic than the one depicted on the present piece.The ‘Pan tao hui’ [Festival of the Peaches] is held in the garden of Xi Wang Mu [Queen Mother of the West] attended by male and female immortals. As well as peaches gathered from her orchard which conferred immortality on anyone tasting them, the queen also offered at this feast other delicacies such as dragon’s liver, phoenix marrow and orangutan lips. The tree which bore the peaches fruited only once every three thousand years. Thus a water dropper in the form of a peach would have associations of longevity.
Materials:stoneware
Technique:glazed
Subjects:child fruit lotus
Dimensions:Height: 9 centimetres Length: 12 centimetres
Description:
A peach-shaped stoneware water dropper with a monochrome emerald-green glaze. This stoneware water dropper in the form of a peach has a curved spout, and a handle modelled as a small crouching boy holding a giant lotus bud. It was filled with water through an opening in the side concealed by the lotus bud.
IMG
Comments:Harrison-Hall 2001:Such water droppers may have been used for adding water to ink for calligraphy or painting. A Ming scholar would have appreciated the boy-shaped handle and would have understood it as an archaistic feature referring back to Song dynasty ceramics and textiles. Objects with monochrome emerald-green glazes are rather rare in the Ming period but become more popular during the Qing era. A much larger blue-and-white peach-shaped ewer was recovered from the Hatcher wreck, datable to c. 1643 (see BM 1984.0303.11). However, that pot is much more skilfully modelled and the form of the peach less stylized and more naturalistic than the one depicted on the present piece.The ‘Pan tao hui’ [Festival of the Peaches] is held in the garden of Xi Wang Mu [Queen Mother of the West] attended by male and female immortals. As well as peaches gathered from her orchard which conferred immortality on anyone tasting them, the queen also offered at this feast other delicacies such as dragon’s liver, phoenix marrow and orangutan lips. The tree which bore the peaches fruited only once every three thousand years. Thus a water dropper in the form of a peach would have associations of longevity.
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