Lotus Bud Waterdropper by Studio of Ch'en Ming-yuan

Lotus Bud Waterdropper c. 18th century

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ceramic, earthenware, sculpture

asian-art

ceramic

earthenware

sculpture

ceramic

Dimensions: 2 3/8 x 3 3/8 x 2 5/8 in. (6.03 x 8.57 x 6.67 cm)

This Yixing clay water dropper, crafted in the studio of Ch'en Ming-yuan, presents us with the lotus, a symbol deeply rooted in Eastern philosophy. Its closed bud, a promise of potential, sits alongside a mature seed pod, a reminder of completed cycles. The lotus, arising pristine from murky waters, embodies purity and spiritual awakening. We see echoes of this symbolism across cultures; consider the Egyptian lotus, representing rebirth, or the Christian rose, often likened to the Virgin Mary. What is it about the blossoming that captures our imagination, repeating itself across history? Perhaps it is the subconscious yearning for transcendence, the inherent human desire to rise above the earthly and touch the divine. This water dropper isn't merely an object; it is a vessel carrying the weight of centuries, resonating with our shared, primal understanding of life's cyclical dance.

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minneapolisinstituteofart over 1 year ago

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This finely detailed water container is shaped like a lotus bud and seed pod and was crafted from red, brown, and yellow clays. It was created by Chen Mingyuan (his square seal is imprinted on the bottom), a versatile potter famous for his scholar's desk objects fashioned to look like bamboo, nuts, vegetables, and prunus. Chen worked at the Yixing kilns in Jiangsu province, which developed a following among the literati class during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) for their small, unassuming "organic taste" products that took inspiration from nature. The waterdropper, an essential implement for the literatus, was used to hold the water that was sprinkled onto the grinding stone when making ink.