DIA160xH60mm, China
The four season flowers, Narcissus, Lotus, Chrysanthemum, Plum Blossom, were a popular decoration for pottery and other works of art. They symbolizes a good fortune for all the four seasons.
Click to see the other four season flowers pottery ware.
The four seasons are appreciated all over the world, here is Mutter’s amazing performance on Vivaldi.
W120xL120mm, China
Calcite alabaster is known as commonly as the Han Jade as this type of white marble was used for fine architectural carving since the Han dynasty. This pair of alabaster plates would have been used as part of the utensils for serving tea outdoor. Carving on top of the plates are flowers of the 4 seasons; Narcissus, Lotus, Chrysanthemum, Plum Blossom.
On the other corners are verses taken from the draft letter from the calligrapher Yan Zhen Qing to corrupt general Guo Ying Yi in 764 AD. This draft letter is famous for the caoshu calligraphy and is learnt by younger calligraphers as the “争座位帖” (Zheng Zuo Wei Tie – The Struggle For a Seat). In this letter of criticism towards the general, the calligrapher concentrate more on his wording and thoughts rather than the calligraphy itself, however his emotion was naturally expressed in the strokes.
… 岂不以才为世出，功冠一时。挫思明跋扈之师，抗回纥无（？）之请，故得身凌烟之阁，名藏太室之庭，吁足畏也！然美则美矣，而终之始难。故曰：满而不溢，所以长守富也，高而不危，所以长守贵也，可不儆惧乎？！…
“故得身画凌烟之阁，名藏太室之廷”
Having a portrait at the hall of fame, the name recorded in palace
From the book of “Xiao Jing” (Classic of Filial Piety)
孝经 – “高而不危，所以长守贵也。
满而不溢，所以长守富也”
Dwelling on high but without peril, nobility can be preserved.
Being affluent but not wasteful, wealth can be preserved.
From the book of (Chinese Code of Success, a classic and not one of those self help book)
朱子治家格言 – “讀書志在聖賢，(非徒科第)；為官心存君國，(豈計身家)？”
To study with the aspiration to be a man of virtue (and not for official ranking).
An official ought to have the interests of the Emperor and the nation at heart (and not his own pocket).
L210xD130xH60mm, China
This is a celadon daffodil bowl, yes celadon is not limited to the pale jade green glaze, it also can be white, grey, blue or yellow. The cracks on the bowl are only on the glazing itself and has no impact to the bowl, this characteristic is known as crackle glaze. This effect for the randomness which mimic nature has been appreciated by the Chinese since the Sung dynasty. However, this texture started off as a defect in the firing process; the clay and the glaze having a different expansion ratio. This crackle style is known as “a hundred broken pieces”.
For more about daffodil, click on Blue Glazed Narcissus Bowl.
L210xD140xH100, China
Narcissus, daffodil, is a very popular plant in China especially for the Chinese New Year. So popular that there is a special container for its presentation. A month before Chinese New Year, one would find daffodil bulbs for sale in the market. The bulb would be placed inside the bowl, secured by pebbles and 2/3 of it cover with water. Up till the days before flowering, the water would be replaced daily, when it started to flower every 3 days. When the shoots started to appear, locate the bowl to a sunny but cool place. As daffodil is part of the New Year decoration, it is almost essential that it is blooming with flowers on New Year’s day, this normally takes 25 days at 20C, if lacks behind a bit of warm water on New Year’s eve would normally do the trick. And if all fails, one can always pay a bit more for the perfectly planted daffodil at the flower market.
Mountain Folkcraft 