Bowl with Lid - Technique to produce
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Bowl with Lid
China; Ming Guo; ca. 1911; after the original of the reign of Emperor Wan Li (1573-1619)
A characteristic of porcelain in the reign of Emperor Wan Li was to cover the white surface with small, densely and often irregularly placed patterns in various colours. In the middle of the lid there is a large stylized flower surrounded by freely placed lotus flowers, leaves and seeds.
Among them are Tao symbols for eternal life, there are eight "precious things" (Chinese ba bao): pearl - meaning happiness; rhomboid - meaning duality and victory; musical stone - meaning righteousness and perfection; mirror - symbol of painting; coin - richness; wormwood leaf - whose meaning is unknown but may signify deserving of merit; a pair of books - meaning scholarship and learning; a pair of rhino horns - meaning joy. The edges of the lid and bowl are finished with a ribbon of squared patterns.