Description:
Chinese export porcelain rectangular platter with chamfered corners decorated in the Famille rose palette of rose, iron red, green, blue, white, black, gold and red-gold. The well scene depicts a landscape with: an asymetrical decoration of a man riding a water buffalo holding a flower; willow trees on a bank with green, black, and gilt blossoms; large crysthanthemum blossom; river and waterfall in the lower right corner; three geese, one flying overhead in red-gold gilt; blue, green, and white water waves at the opposite shore; rose, iron red flowers on shore; and an iron red butterfly. There is a gold band on the edge, which has a brownish rim. This piece may be part of a set that descended in the Schuyler and Van Renssalaer families (some of the service in the Newark Museum) who were wealthy families in New York who imported a large amount Chinese export porcelain. The date can be determined by the use of red/gold gilding. The image of a youth herding a water buffalo alludes to a famous 11th to 12th century cycle of parables known as the Ten Oxherding Songs. In this cycle, actions such as looking for an ox and herding it represent some of the steps in the quest for enlightenment.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+88.069 |
