Page 4 - Chinese Decorative Arts: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 55, no. 1 (Summer, 1997)

Introduction
Introduction

The term "decorative arts" equally important consideration is that some quantity in the period of Mongol rule rule
The
term "decorative arts" encompasses encompasses equally important consideration is that clays clays
some quantity in the period of Mongol
and other minerals suitable for
(the Yuan dynasty) and new forms and and
objects ranging from those produced ranging from those produced and other minerals suitable for making making (the Yuan dynasty) and new forms
objects
porcelain are plentiful all over China. (Yet (Yet
primarily for functional purposes to cre- to cre- porcelain are plentiful all over China. patterns were again introduced from the introduced from the
primarily for functional purposes
patterns were again
another factor is the early Chinese
West, but the vessels
ative works that are realized by
ative works that are realized by means other means other another factor is the early Chinese advance advance West, but the vessels were used mainly at were used mainly at
than painting or sculpture. In Chinese art In Chinese art in pyrotechnology, which enabled potters to in pyrotechnology, which enabled potters to the imperial court and in
the imperial court and in Buddhist tem- Buddhist tem-
than painting or sculpture.
ples, as were, initially, cloisonne enamels, enamels,
the first type can be represented by the plain by the plain fire ceramics at high temperatures.) high temperatures.)
the first type can be represented fire ceramics at ples, as were, initially, cloisonne
There are times when aesthetic prefer- prefer- which were also introduced during the Yuan introduced during the Yuan
dish illustrated on page 64 64
black-lacquer dish illustrated on page There are times when aesthetic which were also
black-lacquer
that has lost its gold decoration ence plays the stronger role. Thus, dynasty.
that has lost its gold decoration but is still but is still ence plays the stronger role. Thus, ever ever
dynasty.
appreciated for For a long
appreciated for its form. The dish was made its form. The dish was made since the native source of jade was exhaust- since the native source of jade was exhaust-
For a long period in Chinese history period in Chinese history
by unknown craftsmen, most likely working likely working ed about three and a half millennia ago, the millennia ago, the
by unknown craftsmen, most ed about three and a half color was not an important element
color was not an important element in in
at Dingzhou, a major center of manufacture a major center of manufacture stone was imported almost without inter- without inter- Chinese art. However, during the late six- the late six-
stone was imported almost
Chinese art. However, during
at Dingzhou,
in northern China in the eleventh to twelfth China in the eleventh to twelfth ruption into interior China from sources in into interior China from sources in
in northern ruption teenth and seventeenth centuries, in
teenth and seventeenth centuries, in the the
century. The bamboo brush holder on Central Asia thousands of miles prosperous regions of southeastern
century. The bamboo brush holder on page page Central Asia thousands of miles away. away.
prosperous regions of southeastern China, China,
popular taste was for
Similarly,
on the other hand, is a signed work by signed work by
49, on the other hand, is a Similarly, when the elephant became extinct when the elephant became extinct popular taste was for colorful objects. This colorful objects. This
49,
in China some two thousand
Zhang Xihuang, an artist who would have an artist who would have in China some two thousand years ago years ago trend can be seen in textiles and in
Zhang Xihuang,
trend can be seen in textiles and in poly- poly-
numbered among the great painters of the of the (owing to climatic changes), ivory was climatic changes), ivory was chrome lacquer, as well as in porcelain dec- dec-
(owing to
numbered among the great painters
chrome lacquer, as well as in porcelain
seventeenth century had he chosen to work had he chosen to work imported from overseas, some coming from some coming from orated overglaze enamels. The taste The taste
enamels.
orated with with
imported from overseas,
seventeenth century
overglaze
with the brush rather than
with the brush rather than the chisel. The the chisel. The as far as Africa. Other organic for color and elaborate decoration was
as far as Africa. Other organic substances substances for color and elaborate decoration was per- per-
low-relief that can petuated
low-relief carving is executed with superla- carving is executed with superla- that can be worked into a smooth surface be worked into a smooth surface petuated through the Qing dynasty. through the Qing dynasty.
tive skill, and the with a soft sheen, from the From the Song period on
From the Song period on wealth and sta- wealth and sta-
tive skill, and the landscape and calligraphy landscape and calligraphy with a soft sheen, from the expensive expensive
are equal to the finest imported tus were obtained only in officialdom,
are equal to the finest contemporaneous contemporaneous imported rhinoceros horn to the common rhinoceros horn to the common tus were obtained only in officialdom, and and
works on paper. The exhibits in the bamboo, officialdom could only be attained
works on paper. The exhibits in the newly newly bamboo, are all preferred for works of dec- are all preferred for works of dec-
officialdom could only be attained through through
opened galleries for Chinese decorative
opened galleries for Chinese decorative arts arts orative art and for practical utensils. art and for practical utensils. learning (and a fine hand in calligraphy). To hand in calligraphy). To
orative
learning (and a fine
can thus be appreciated on many levels. on many levels. Metals, including gold and silver, never and silver, never satisfy the demands of
Metals, including gold
can thus be appreciated
satisfy the demands of scholar-officials scholar-officials
Two important factors that determine factors that determine played a central role in Chinese material a central role in Chinese material there grew up an industry for making fine fine
played
there grew up an industry for making
Two important
the choice of materials culture-except, of course, instruments and accoutrements for
the choice of materials for making utensils for making utensils culture-except, of course, bronze in the bronze in the
instruments and accoutrements for the the
and works of art in a particular civilization of art in a particular civilization Bronze Age. Later Chinese bronzes, used Later Chinese bronzes, used
and works Bronze Age. study. Articles such as ink
study. Articles such as ink sticks, inkstones, sticks, inkstones,
for practical purposes such as
are the aesthetic for practical purposes such as incense burn- incense burn- brushes, and paper were made with such made with such
brushes, and paper were
are the aesthetic preference of the people preference of the people
and the availability of the material.
and the availability of the material. The use The use ers skill and care that they
ers and flower vases, took mostly archaistic and flower vases, took mostly archaistic skill and care that they became luxury items. became luxury items.
forms that
of lacquer for the protective coating of of forms that made them acceptable as house- made them acceptable as house- The ink sticks and inkstones now on
of lacquer for the protective coating
The ink sticks and inkstones now on display display
utensils and as an artistic medium hold articles by their association with in the Museum, although by no
utensils and as an artistic medium developed developed hold articles by their association with antiq- antiq- in the Museum, although by no means com- means com-
naturally in China because the lacquer tree in China because the lacquer tree uity. Silver vessels were used in China for Silver vessels were used in China for prehensive in types and chronology, will and chronology, will
naturally
uity.
prehensive in types
was native
(Rhus
was native to the land, but to the land, but the first time only in the seventh century, only in the seventh century, give the visitor some idea of the artistry artistry
(Rhus verniciflua) verniciflua) the first time give the visitor some idea of the
its popularity can also be explained by its also be explained by its when cultural influences from the lavished on these
its popularity can
when cultural influences from the Western Western lavished on these articles. articles.
aesthetic appeal. The polished surface of lac- surface of lac- Regions (Central Asia) were strong, but for were strong, but for All the objects in the Florence and Florence and
All the objects in the
aesthetic appeal. The polished
Regions (Central Asia)
quer, with its tactile qualities and soft luster, luster, some time their forms and decorations were some time their forms and decorations were
quer, with its tactile qualities and soft Herbert Irving Galleries for
Herbert Irving Galleries for Chinese Chinese
approximates that of jade, a stone that that of jade, a stone that cap- mainly borrowed from imported articles. articles. Decorative Arts are uniquely Chinese and Chinese and
cap- mainly borrowed from imported
Decorative Arts are uniquely
approximates
tured the Chinese Despite reflect the taste and sensibilities of a
tured the Chinese imagination in prehistoric imagination in prehistoric Despite the fact that a native tradition of the fact that a native tradition of
reflect the taste and sensibilities of a people people
times and never relinquished its hold. The its hold. The working silver eventually developed in the silver eventually developed in the over a long period of time-from the tenth the tenth
working
over a long period of time-from
times and never relinquished
Song period (see p. 6), it
love of jade may explain Chinese
love of jade may explain Chinese reluctance reluctance Song period (see p. 6), it never achieved the never achieved the to nineteenth century--but they also also pos-
to nineteenth century--but they
pos-
same degree of
sess artistic qualities that are
to cut
to cut crystalline stones for their sparkle, crystalline stones for their sparkle, same degree of popularity and sophistica- popularity and sophistica- sess artistic qualities that are universal and universal and
preferring ajways a smooth ground surface. a smooth ground surface. tion of design and workmanship as works in tion of design and workmanship as works in will be readily appreciated by the casual the casual
preferring ajways
will be readily appreciated by
It may also explain the Chinese other media, such as those visitor as well as by specialists. specialists.
It may also explain the Chinese preference preference other media, such as those mentioned mentioned
visitor as well as by
above. Gold and silver were again made in Gold and silver were again made in
an
for porcelain over an above. JCYW
for porcelain over glass-although glass-although
JCYW
3 3