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passionate commitment to Daoism, and, perhaps even more
signifcantly, the Jiajing Emperor was known to have referred himself as
‘The Fisherman of the Heavenly Pond’ – a view of which his grandson,
the Wanli Emperor, may have been aware.

One of the most popular fsh in China is the carp, the general name for
which li 鯉 sounds like the word for proft (li 利), and a depiction of two
carp would represent doubled proft. On a less materialistic tack, the
word for carp also sounds like the word for the Confucian concept of
moral uprightness (li 禮). The carp has an additional meaning, for it
represents the scholar who is successful in his civil service
examinations, allowing him to become a jinshi 進士, who will get a good
oficial position. Legend says that the carp swims upstream every year
at the Spring Equinox to the Dragon Gate Falls on the Yellow River,
which it leaps over and, if successful, is transformed into a dragon. It is
noteworthy that all the fsh on the most famous Jiajing wucai vessels –
the large lidded jars - are in fact carp, all of which are painted in iron red
applied over yellow to give the impression of a rich red-gold. A Jiajing
fsh jar from the collection of the Palace Museum, Beijing is illustrated in
Porcelains in polychrome and Contrasting Colours, The Complete
Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum, vol. 38, Hong Kong, 1999,
p. 15, no. 15. Another of these monumental Jiajing fsh jars was sold by
Christie’s Hong Kong on 27 November 2017, lot 8006. (Fig. 5) A change
may be seen in the fsh depicted on Wanli wucai vessels, such as the
current vases. Rather than all the fsh being of the same type and
Fig. 6. A large cloisonné enamel fsh basin (two views), Qianlong period
painted in the same colour, as on the Jiajing jars, the fsh on the vases are
(1736-1795), sold at Masterpieces of the Enameller’s art from the Mandel
signifcantly more varied with some of them being painted in underglaze Colletion, Christie’s Hong Kong, 30 May 2012.
blue and others painted in a range of overglaze enamel colours.
Another variant seen on Wanli vases – both those decorated in blue and with fsh and crustaceans on the interior were also sold at Christie’s New
white and those in wucai technique – is the inclusion of additional York, 20 October 2004, lot 611 (from the C. Ruxton and Audrey B. Love
creatures in the form of crabs and shrimp. As well as providing further Collection) , and at Christie’s Hong Kong, 30 May 2012, lot 3910. (Fig. 6)
visual interest to the design, these inclusions also had auspicious
meaning. The crab (xie 蟹) suggested coming frst in the imperial The current exceptional Wanli wucai vases were gifted to The Art
examinations, since the crab’s shell is seen as armour (jia 甲), and yijia Institute Chicago in 1954 by Russell Tyson (1867-1963). Russell Tyson’s
一甲 is frst place in the fnal imperial examinations. Shrimp (xia 蝦) with father George served as the managing partner to one of Asia’s largest
their fexibility are symbols for everything going smoothly (wanwanshun shipping frms – Russell and Company – in the late 19th century, and
彎彎順), as well as symbolising the ability to change one’s fate, if Russell spent some of his infancy in Shanghai prior to his family’s return
necessary. These two additions to the design therefore contribute to Boston in 1868. With his parents’ close ties to China, the Tyson home
auspicious wishes for success and a peaceful existence. contained many Chinese antiques which prompted the young Russell to
developed an interest and connoisseurship in Asian art, with a special
This design of fsh and crustaceans in water, established in the Jiajing interest in Chinese ceramics. In 1893 Russell Tyson moved to Chicago,
and Wanli reigns, found favour again in the arts made for the court of a to join the real estate frm of Aldis, and became an ardent supporter of
later emperor - the Qing Qianlong Emperor (1736-95) - during whose The Art Institute - serving as a trustee, honorary vice president, and a
reign this design adorned the interior of a number of magnifcent member of the Department of Asian Art’s advisory committee from its
imperial cloisonné basins. Two such cloisonné basins, decorated with inception in 1922. As a donor to The Art Institute, Russell Tyson was
fsh and crustaceans on the interior and deer in landscape on the extraordinarily generous, donating almost 1,000 objects, the majority
exterior, are in the Pierre Uldry Collection and the Avery Brundage of which were Asian art. One of The Art Institute’s galleries bears his
Collection, Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. These basins are name. Some of the donations came from his personal collection, while
illustrated by H. Brinker and A. Lutz, Chinese Cloisonné: The Pierre Uldry for the acquisition of others he provided funds, and he left an additional
Collection, Asia Society Galleries, New York, 1989, no. 322 (the Uldry endowment for future purchases. The current magnifcent vases were
basin) and p. 141, fg. 72 (the Brundage basin). Qianlong cloisonné basins gifted during his lifetime.

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