East Asian Art "Sky-clearing-blue" Bowl with design of Two Four-clawed Dragons Chasing a Pearl Made in China, AsiaQing Dynasty (1644-1911), Late 17th century Artist/maker unknown, Chinese Glazed porcelain with incised underglaze decoration - monochrome Currently not on view 1944-20-301 Gift of Major General and Mrs. William Crozier, 1944 |
LabelThis bowl was once in the collection of the Qianlong emperor (1736-1795), a passionate collector and commissioner of art as well as a composer of poetry and calligraphy. A poem written by the emperor--one of many of his own compositions that he ordered master artisans to incise into palace-collection objects--appears in official script at the base of the bowl. The poem alludes to the bowl's brilliant color: Scattering mist and variegated colors disperse and do not leave behind any forms/they are washed out of the growing heavens and the color of the sky clearing up is azure. |
