Bowl with carved lotus and clouds.

White-Glazed Wide-Mouthed Bowl Molded with Lotus and Cloud Motifs

Vietnam

Tran dynasty (13th-14th century)

  • Titles White-Glazed Wide-Mouthed Bowl Molded with Lotus and Cloud Motifs (Descriptive)
  • Medium glazed stoneware
  • Dimensions 3 1/8 x 8 in. Diam. (7.9 x 20.3 cm)
  • Credit Line Collection of the Art Fund, Inc. at the Birmingham Museum of Art; Bequest of William M. Spencer III, AFI.111.2010
  • Work Type bowl
  • Classification Containers
  • On View

See More of the Collection

Fan with calligraphy
A double-faced tomb guardian from the State of Chu in southern China, modern Hubei Province
Bowl with notched rim and molded floral decoration.
The posture of this figure, both legs bent one behind, the other underneath, signals this monkey is flying. He holds in his left hand a double-edged sword, while his right hand holds a flower. The flower may here represent the herbs required to heal Lakshman (Pra Lak) from a life-threatening wound. Hanuman is only the lid of this exquisite box. The sides of the box are lavishly decorated with birds, crabs, lobsters, mollusks, fish, birds, and diverse plants, suggesting his long journey and ability to fly over land and swim in water. This box might have been employed for luxury ingredients for a betel chewing gift exchange for honored guests.