3 janvier 2017

Round box, Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Reign of the Jiajing emperor (1522-1566). Red and black inlaid lacquer with gold inlay. H. 1 1/4 in x Diam. 3 3/4 in, H. 3.2 cm x Diam. 9.5 cm. Gift of the Christensen Fund, BL77M18.a-.b. © 2016 Asian Art Museum Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture.

Covered box with a dragon cavorting in the ocean, Ming dynasty, Jiajing six-character mark and of the period (1522-1566). Multicolor lacquer with carved designs. H. 3 1/2 in x Diam. 9 1/2 in. The Avery Brundage Collection, B60M308.a-.b. © 2016 Asian Art Museum Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture. The complex art of carving polychrome lacquer (ticai) reached its climax during the Jiajing period. It requires the application of layers of two or more colors at different levels. According to the color... [Lire la suite]

Mandarin duck, seventh rank civil official, late 1700s-early 1900s. Silk embroidery on silk, height: 11 in, 27.94 cm; width: 11 1/2 in, 29.21 cm. Neusteter Textile Collection: Gift of James P. Grant and Betty Grant Austin, 1977.251  © Denver Art Museum Central duck figure looking toward red silk disk embroidered into clouds. Two bats above. Bird is above waves. Also included are peonies, a narcissus and other birds. Deep blue silk background. Figure and designs in reds, blues, greens, ivories. A repeated... [Lire la suite]

Tiger, Fourth Rank Military Official, 1850-1870. Silk embroidery on silk, height: 11 1/2 in, 29.21 cm; width: 12 1/2 in, 31.75 cm. Neusteter Textile Collection: Gift of James P. Grant and Betty Grant Austin, 1977.233 © Denver Art Museum Tiger in yellow surrounded by symbols: canopy at top, bats, pomegrenate, the three plenties, wheel with flames, endless knot bottom left, fish, cloud forms. Colors are light and dark blues, green, reds, yellows. Border designs in blues.

Leopard, Third Rank Military Official, c. 1870. Silk embroidery on silk, height: 12 1/2 in, 31.75 cm; width: 11 7/8 in, 30.16 cm. Neusteter Textile Collection: Gift of James P. Grant and Betty Grant Austin, 1977.230 © Denver Art Museum This badge has a black background with additional colors of orange, blue, green, brown, white, all stitched with silk threads. There is an orange leopard as the center motif, surrounded by an endless knot in the upper left. Other motifs include a conk shell on the left, two bats to the... [Lire la suite]

Golden pheasant, second rank civil official, 1700s-early 1800s. Woven silk and metal thread tapestry with painted details, height: 11 1/4 in, 28.575 cm; width: 12 in, 30.48 cm. Neusteter Textile Collection: Gift of James P. Grant & Betty Grant Austin, 1977.229 © Denver Art Museum Black silk with pheasant surrounded by many symbolic shapes: trees, mountains, ocean, pearls, musical stones, lotus pod, clouds, bats. Metallic (gold) edges and accents. Back lined in lime green.

Dish with landscape, Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Reign of the Jiajing emperor, Jiangxi province. Porcelain with underglaze-blue decoration, qinghua ware. H. 3 5/8 in x Diam. 16 3/4 in, H. 9.2 cm x Diam. 42.5 cm. Museum purchase, B69P10 © 2016 Asian Art Museum Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture. The immortal landscape on this dish is drawn in a flat perspective and built up with mountains, a pagoda, pine trees, cranes, and a bridge over an ocean in the center of the base. The interior edge is decorated with... [Lire la suite]

Bowl, Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Reign of the Jiajing emperor, Jiangxi province. Porcelain with underglaze-blue and overglaze decoration. H. 2 1/2 in x Diam. 4 3/4 in, H. 6.4 cm x Diam. 12.1 cm. The Avery Brundage Collection, B67P26 © 2016 Asian Art Museum Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture. During the Jiajing-Wanli period, color schemes for polychrome decorations developed into various styles. One such style separated the use of underglaze-blue and overglaze materials, as seen on this piece. The... [Lire la suite]

Manchu man’s semiformal court robe, mid 19th century. Woven silk and metal thread tapestry with painted details, length: 54 in, 137.16 cm; width: 82 in, 208.28 cm. Neusteter Textile Collection: Gift of Miss Louise Steele, 1958.13 © Denver Art Museum Nine five-clawed blue dragons inhabit the clouds. The slanted, multi-colored stripes (lishui) at the bottom of the robe represent standing water above which the ocean surges and waves froth. At the front, back and sides, rocks representing the four directions rise up. Above in the skies... [Lire la suite]

Manchu woman’s informal outer coat, 1875-1899. Silk and metal thread embroidery on brushed wool, length: 56 in, 142.24 cm; width: 58 in, 147.32 cm. Neusteter Textile Collection: Gift of James P. grant & Betty Grant Austin, 1977.201 © Denver Art Museum. The type of red, brushed wool fabric seen in this coat was originally used for English soldiers’ uniforms. Highly desirable for its vibrant color, it was imported into China and fashioned into temple banners, wedding hangings, and garments, such as this rare survivor. Although it... [Lire la suite]