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Water receptacle in the form of a lotus seed-pod
Water receptacle in the form of a lotus seed-pod

Water receptacle in the form of a lotus seed-pod

Artist (Chinese, 1644 - 1750)
Place of OriginJiangsu province, China
Dateapprox. 1644-1750
DynastyQing dynasty (1644-1911)
MaterialsPurplish-brown high-fired ceramic with sculpted and incised decoration, polychrome slip
DimensionsH. 2 1/2 in x W. 3 3/8 in x D. 2 7/8 in, H. 6.3 cm x W. 8.6 cm x D. 7.3 cm water dropper; H. 3/4 in x W. 3 1/2 in x D. 2 3/4 in, H. 1.9 cm x W. 8.9 cm x D. 7 cm stand
Credit LineThe Avery Brundage Collection
Object numberB62P180
DepartmentChinese Art
ClassificationsCeramics
On View
Not on view
MarkingsStamped three character seal mark in two columns
More Information
The subject matter here, connecting the lotus seed with the lotus root, implies the Chinese phrase yinhe de'ou ("kindness yields double advantages"), as the character for "lotus" is homonymous with that for "kindness" and the character for "lotus root" is likewise homonymous with that for "double". More than a dozen types of fruits, plants, and seeds are found to have been portrayed by Chen. Two ("Mingyuan"), three ("Chen Mingyuan"), or four ("produced by Chen Mingyuan") characters were incised or stamped on his works. This vessel bears the three-character mark. The lotus family was one of his much favored motifs for waterpots (Urban Council 1981: 91-4).