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18th-Century Chinese Plate
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| Limited Edition:
33 Banners |
| Price:
$359 |
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| Museum:
Asian Art Museum of San Francisco |
| Exhibition:
Hidden Meanings: Symbolism in Chinese Art |
| Material:
Printed vinyl |
| Dimensions:
L: 72 " (183 cm) : W:35 "
(89 cm) |
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Description:
In a language where symbols are language, it should come as no
surprise that the layers of imagery and meaning that are part of the written
word are also part of the language of art. Symbolism has long been
prevalent in the Chinese decorative arts, giving rich meaning even to
everyday objects.
During the Qing Dynasty (c. 1736-1795), many visual puns, or rebuses
were incorporated in the decoration of clothing, ceramics, and other
housewares. These conveyed messages and well-wishes for everything from
wealth to longevity to happy marriages. Such symbolism was the topic of the
Asian Art Museum's exhibition Hidden Meanings: Symbolism in Chinese
Art. An 18th century plate from the exhibition is featured on these
banners.
The plate is pictured against a pale, mint-green background. Featuring a
scene of peaches and bats, the plate is both beautiful and functional. But
to those versed in these auspicious symbols, the plate conveys a deeper
message. Bats are a prominent motif, as the pronunciation of the word "bat"
(fu) is the same as that for "blessings" (fu) and "riches" (fu). Peaches
are a symbol for longevity, thus, this beautiful decoration acts as a symbol
conveying the sentiment "May you have both blessings and longevity".
On the front of the banner, beside the image of the plate, are four dark
green Chinese characters. A maroon band at the bottom contains white
lettering that reads, "Asian Art". The other side of the banner continues
the mint green background, with the exhibition title in dark green text,
"Hidden Meanings/Symbolism in Chinese Art", and dates, "Oct 7 - Dec 31". In
the maroon band at the bottom, the museum's name is completed from the other
side with white letters that read, "Museum".
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| Provenance:
These banners were displayed around San Francisco from October 7 through
December 31, 2006 to promote the exhibition, Hidden Meanings: Symbolism
in Chinese Art at the Asian Art Museum. |
About the Artist:
During the 18th century, Chinese porcelain production was at its height,
with millions of pieces created annually for export and internal use. An
assembly line process was used with each craftsman focusing on his
specialty - one piece of porcelain might be worked on by as many as 70
different artisans. Decoration was almost exclusively drawn from
traditional Chinese design sources and nature.
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| Color Scheme: Cool - |
| Style: Asian - |
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