Hand warmer c. early 17th century

egg art

cake food

swirl

culinary art

appetizing

food illustration

stoneware

china

food art

earthenware

food photography

"Hand Warmer" is a 17th-century Chinese bronze vessel made by Zhang Mingqi. It is a circular container with a perforated lid, designed to hold hot coals that would generate warmth for the hands. The intricate design of the lid is indicative of the craftsmanship of the Ming dynasty. The vessel is currently housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The delicate, patterned lid, and the smooth, rounded body of the hand warmer reflect the meticulous artistry of Chinese bronzework during this period.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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A native of Jiaxing in Zhejiang province, Zhang Mingqi was regarded as one of the four greatest craftsmen of the late Ming dynasty. While the other three specialized in crafts including bamboo carving, Yixing pottery, and shell carving and inlay, Zhang was the most well-known producer of handwarmers of the late Ming dynasty. Because of his mastery, his nickname was Zhanglu, or “Handwarmer Zhang”. He typically worked with red copper and often used a hammering technique to shape his works. The result was that it was less likely for the handwarmers to rust. He was also known for creating components that fit together perfectly, due to his attention to precision. The lids of his works are often composed of an openwork netting pattern, inspired by bamboo basket weaving but produced with copper. He always carved his name in seal script on the underside of his works – Zhang Mingqi zhi (Made by Zhang Mingqi).