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Source Description
The flowering plum that wraps itself around this elegant vase is one of China's most enduring artistic motifs. Blossoming early in the year around the time of the Chinese New Year, the plum is the harbinger of spring and carrier of the promise of renewal. The speed with which the plum blossom moves from dormant bud to flower to fallen petals made it a metaphor for the brief experience of life and the apparent transience of all living things. Its great beauty and fragility appealed to painters, poets, and others who created works for the Chinese decorative arts market.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
31937
label
Vase with Flowering Plum Design
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
2
Source metadata
id
31937
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Vase with Flowering Plum Design
description
The flowering plum that wraps itself around this elegant vase is one of China's most enduring artistic motifs. Blossoming early in the year around the time of the Chinese New Year, the plum is the harbinger of spring and carrier of the promise of renewal. The speed with which the plum blossom moves from dormant bud to flower to fallen petals made it a metaphor for the brief experience of life and the apparent transience of all living things. Its great beauty and fragility appealed to painters, poets, and others who created works for the Chinese decorative arts market.
provenance
Randolph Mordecai [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1948, by gift.
date
18th-19th century
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
vases
imageCount
2
pageCount
2
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Approx. H: 16 in. (40.64 cm)
Source extras
dynasty
Qing [Ch'ing] Dynasty
med
porcelain with overglaze enamels
creator_ids
6238
collection_ids
CHN
exhibition_ids
2514
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
ef36c9f4c5e08c05
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
fb386c6665970f54
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no