Jarlet Item Number: Edz1584 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
A predominantly blue, round, neckless jar with domed lid topped with a small hard relief peach with leaves. The mouth of the jar is nearly as wide as the diameter and has a small sloping rim. The enamelled glaze is thickly applied with stylized peonies alternating with flowering plants and three bats over stone chimes. These motifs are outlined in black and also decorate the domed lid. The interior surfaces are white and undecorated. Four character seal mark at bottom of jar. Two Chinese characters on jar rim and repeated on lid rim. The Chinese characters on jar and lid rim translate to twenty-three. The seal is unidentified.
Narrative
Acquired by Dr. Miguel Tecson in Montreal, 1972.
Iconographic Meaning
Bats live to a thousand years old in Chinese folklore and the word fu is similarly pronounced for both bat and happiness in Chinese. Bats are thus emblematic of longevity and happiness. The peach is symbolic of immortality, often associated with the god of longevity, spring, and marriage. The peony is regarded as an omen of good fortune, emblem of love and affection, and symbolic of feminine beauty. The stone chime is a musical instrument of percussion used in the spring and autumn hymnal service in honour of Confucius. Its name qing is also homonymic of the character which represents felicity.
Item History
- Made in China between 1644 and 1911
- Owned by Julia Tecson and Miguel Tecson before November 16, 1987
- Received from Julia Tecson (Donor) and Miguel Tecson (Donor) on November 16, 1987
What
Who
- Culture
- Chinese
- Previous Owner
- Julia Tecson and Miguel Tecson
- Received from
- Julia Tecson (Donor) and Miguel Tecson (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- China
When
- Creation Date
- between 1644 and 1911
- Ownership Date
- before November 16, 1987
- Acquisition Date
- on November 16, 1987
Other
- Item Classes
- ceramics
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 1262/0173 a-b