- Overview
- Inscription
- Provenance
- Bibliography
Overview
This Ming dynasty stem bowl—a shape used in Buddhist ritual—exemplifies the finest blue-and-white porcelains of the early fifteenth century. The design is painted in underglaze cobalt blue. Leafy tendrils of a lotus scroll enframe eight blossoms, each topped with one of Buddhism's Eight Auspicious Emblems: a pair of fish, a lotus flower, a canopy, a parasol, a conch shell, the wheel of dharma, an endless knot, and a vase. These symbolize freedom, purity, righteousness, respect, the Buddha's voice, Buddhist law, compassion, and truth.
Inscription
in standard script on the interior in underglaze blue in one column of six characters: Da Ming Quande nian zhi (made in the Xuande reign of the great Ming dynasty)
Marks and Labels
null
Provenance
(C. T. Loo, New York); sold June 1941 to Harry G. Steele [1881-1942], Pasadena; his widow, Grace C. Steele [d. 1974]; gift 1972 to NGA.
Exhibition History
Bibliography
- 1998
- Bower, Virginia, Josephine Hadley Knapp, Stephen Little, and Robert Wilson Torchia. Decorative Arts, Part II: Far Eastern Ceramics and Paintings; Persian and Indian Rugs and Carpets. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. Washington, D.C., 1998: 36-37, color repro.
- 2000
- National Gallery of Art Special Issue. Connaissance des Arts. Paris, 2000:62.
Related Works
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Work of Art
- Giovanni Bellini
- Italian
- c. 1430/1435 – 1516
- Mrs. Thomas Scott Jackson
- c. 1770/1773
- oil on canvas
- overall: 74.8 x 356.2 cm (29 7/16 x 140 1/4 in.)
- framed: 104.1 x 385.1 x 10.5 cm (41 x 151 5/8 x 4 1/8 in.)
- Andrew W. Mellon Collection
- 1937.1.94
- • On View
-
Work of Art
- Giovanni Bellini
- Italian
- c. 1430/1435 – 1516
- Lady Elizabeth Delmé and Her Children
- 1777-1779
- oil on canvas
- overall: 74.8 x 356.2 cm (29 7/16 x 140 1/4 in.)
- framed: 104.1 x 385.1 x 10.5 cm (41 x 151 5/8 x 4 1/8 in.)
- Andrew W. Mellon Collection
- 1937.1.95
- • On View
Related Resources
-
Event Type
- Event Name
- March 1–June 1
- Mon, Tues, and Wed at 1:00
- March 5, 2012 at 2:00
March 7, 2012 at 4:00 - East Building, Auditorium
- Name of docent
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- 60 minutes
- Registration for this event begins on April 1, 2012 at noon.
- Register for this event
- Download the program notes (100k)
-
Self-Guided Tour
- Italian Collection
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