Beaker vase

Accession Number
PG2020.2.4

Title
Beaker vase

Artist(s)
Chinese

Artist Nationality
Chinese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
Ming dynasty (circa 1640)

Medium & Support
porcelain with blue underglaze painting

Dimensions
17 3/4 in. (45.08 cm)

Credit Line
Promised gift of William C. Weese, M.D., LSA ‘65

Subject matter
This beaker vase depicts the theme of "The Four Gentlemen", which are plum blossom, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum. These plants share qualities of endurance, understated beauty and subtle fragrance, making them a great company to scholars of integrity. The shape of the beaker vase is modeled on the bronze wine beaker manfactured in the Shang dynasty (17th c. BC-11th c. BC). Unlike the decorative and display purpose of the blue-and-white beaker vase, the bronze beaker was used as a wine vessel. Mimicking the bronze vessel, the pictorial ornaments on the vase are also devided into three sections.

Physical Description
Blue and white porcelain beaker vase made during transitional period. This beaker vase depicts the theme of "The Four Gentlemen", which are plum blossom, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum. The shape of the beaker vase is modeled on the bronze wine beaker manfactured in the Shang dynasty (17th c. BC-11th c. BC).

Primary Object Classification
Ceramic

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
blue-and-white (ceramic glaze)
ceramic (material)
flower (motif)
porcelain (material)
vases

& Author Notes

All Rights Reserved

On display

UMMA Gallery Location ➜ FFW, Mezzanine ➜ M06 (Shirley Chang Gallery of Chinese Art)