Ovoid covered jar with flowering plants c. 1680 - 1700

This ovoid jar, now in the Rijksmuseum, features flowering plants in a style that speaks volumes about cultural exchange. Notice the vibrant blossoms and verdant leaves that adorn the ceramic surface. These motifs, rendered in cobalt blue and iron-red, carry deep symbolism rooted in Chinese traditions, where specific flowers often represent seasons, virtues, or stages of life. Consider the lotus, a symbol of purity and enlightenment, its presence here connects it to a lineage of spiritual and artistic expressions found across Asia and beyond. Echoes of this symbolism reappear in Renaissance paintings, where the Madonna is often depicted with lilies, a visual parallel to the lotus's purity. The act of depicting nature—the blossoms, the branches—taps into a primal desire to capture the transient beauty of life. This pursuit, deeply embedded in the collective psyche, resurfaces through history. This ovoid jar is more than a vessel; it’s a testament to the enduring power of symbols.