Dish with Flowering Plum and Birds

14th century

Not on view

Flowering plums and birds, possibly magpies, a popular theme in the paining and poetry of the Southern Song dynasty (1279–1368), were understood as harbingers of spring, because the plum is one of the first blossoms to appear as winter ends. This depiction of plum blossoms, which range from buds to full blooms, derives from the influential Manual of Plum Blossom Likeness (Meihua xishen pu), written by the artist Song Boren in the mid-thirteenth century, which discusses and illustrates the different stages in the life of this delicate flower.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

元黑漆嵌螺鈿梅鵲紋八方盤
Title: Dish with Flowering Plum and Birds
Period: Yuan dynasty (1271–1368)
Date: 14th century
Culture: China
Medium: Black lacquer with mother-of-pearl inlay
Dimensions: H. 1/8 in. (.3 cm); Diam.11 5/8 in. (29.5 cm)
Classification: Lacquer
Credit Line: Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, in honor of James C. Y. Watt, 2011
Object Number: 2011.120.2
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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