Fu

China

Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), 1312

  • Titles Fu (Descriptive)
  • Artist China
  • Medium bronze
  • Dimensions 13 3/4 x 9 1/4 in. (34.9 x 23.5 cm)
  • Credit Line Museum purchase, 1989.13
  • Work Type food vessel
  • Classification Containers

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Large, oval, three-lobed vase of reddish brown stoneware, covered in a red glaze flecked with black and with an overlaid black glaze in an abstract design on both sides that mimics the lobed shape of the body and includes wavy lines and dots in red, with a short, straight neck.
Ot-4 Although Sotheby's, in London, titled this piece a "peacock" at auction, it is quite obviously a turkey. But even correcting the name does not solve the mystery of the piece's function. A bird of this shape is, in English, of course, known as a turkey; in Hindi, a turkey is called Peru. Although most experts believe that turkeys are native to North America, the fowl are raised in some regions of India, such as Kerala, today, and may have been raised in India earlier than on record. The next question regards the purpose of this piece. The cylinder rising from the bird's body resembles a rosewater sprinkler or Fulani, but, although there is a screw-able finial shaped as a flowerhead to allow for the addition of liquid, there are no "sprinkler" holes on the top, since the seam on the beast is only a decorative element.
Short two-panel folding screen, decorated with stylized hibiscus under blue clouds. Black, tan, brown, red and blue layered lacquer carved in chōshitsu relief technique, detailed with gold-filled engraving and ninety three inlaid pearls as dew drops. Frame is of mirror polish black lacquer and the reverse is black lacquer textured with crushed black lacquer. Applied silver mounts.
No. 216, Whan Sup Kang, ink on paper