Incense Burner with the Eighteen Luohans
This ceramic vessel captures both the playfulness and power of the luohans (arhats). At right, one luohan fords a river on the back of a tiger while his companion hails a flying dragon; at left, more luohans welcome their companions, who arrive on floating clouds. This piece was produced under the short-lived Southern Ming dynasty, a remnant court that fled to the south after the Qing dynasty had been established in the north. Dated ceramics from the Southern Ming are extremely rare.
Artwork Details
- 南明弘光元年 景德鎮窯青花十八羅漢圖香爐
- Title: Incense Burner with the Eighteen Luohans
- Period: Southern Ming dynasty (1644–62)
- Date: 1645
- Culture: China
- Medium: Porcelain with underglaze cobalt blue decoration (Jingdezhen ware)
- Dimensions: H. 5 7/8 in. (14.9 cm); Diam. 8 3/8 in. (21.3 cm); Diam. of rim 9 in. (22.9 cm); Diam. of foot 5 3/8 in. (13.7 cm)
- Classification: Ceramics
- Credit Line: Gift of Julia and John Curtis, in celebration of the Museum’s 150th Anniversary, 2020
- Object Number: 2020.73.7
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
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1713–22
17th century
late 17th century
17th century
ca. 1700
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