Covered bowl with powder blue and flower sprays in fan-shaped panels c. 1700 - 1724

This covered bowl, crafted anonymously, features powder blue and floral sprays arranged in fan-shaped panels. The cobalt-blue palette lends the piece a serene yet striking visual harmony, with the fluidity of the floral motifs contrasting against the geometric structure of the fan panels. The bowl's design plays with semiotic codes deeply rooted in Chinese culture. Fan shapes symbolize openness and knowledge, while floral patterns often represent seasons or virtues. These motifs, rendered in blue against the white porcelain, engage in a play of figure and ground, creating a visual tension that destabilizes fixed meanings. The careful arrangement of these elements invites contemplation on how traditional symbols can be reconfigured within a structured format, questioning the interplay between cultural heritage and artistic innovation. Ultimately, the bowl exists not as a static artifact but as a dynamic site where signs and symbols converge, inviting ongoing interpretation.