Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries


Visitors' Forum

Asian Art  Forums - Detail List
Asian Art Forums

Message Listing by Date:
Message Index | Back | Post a New Message | Search | Private Mail | FAQ
Subject:Chinese porcelain - Washing the elephant SAO XIANG
Posted By: Tim Sun, Jun 28, 2015 IP: 76.110.209.69

Just wanted to share a recent vase I purchased....

Not quite the Chongzhen masterpiece at the MET, but pretty darn nice for a 19th c. piece. Anyone see another like this?

http://www.chinese-ceramics.com/2012/11/17/museum-piece-of-the-week-chongzhen-blue-and-white-brush-pot/







Subject:Re: Chinese porcelain - Washing the elephant SAO XIANG
Posted By: rat Mon, Jun 29, 2015

Looks nice. Also see Ding Yunpeng's various paintings of this subject, eg:

http://www.npm.gov.tw/exh101/ding_yunpeng/en/ch02.html

https://books.google.com/books?id=BsyFU9FwCIkC&pg=PA63&lpg=PA63&dq=ding+yunpeng+washing+elephant&source=bl&ots=O303iErJT4&sig=MwELZkZ8JroNrvrxILw78_h56_8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=nWmRVcWaH4bb-QH8p4OgDw&ved=0CEIQ6AEwDA#v=onepage&q=ding%20yunpeng%20washing%20elephant&f=false

https://books.google.com/books?id=Y6ffYIPn--wC&pg=PA74&lpg=PA74&dq=ding+yunpeng+washing+elephant&source=bl&ots=bPkNo_DQRV&sig=Hd2EXQBQ-4jb18jVMcswy-IzNoY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=nWmRVcWaH4bb-QH8p4OgDw&ved=0CEUQ6AEwDQ#v=onepage&q=ding%20yunpeng%20washing%20elephant&f=false

http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/paintings/ding-yunpeng-sweeping-the-elephant-5899475-details.aspx


Subject:Re: Chinese porcelain - Washing the elephant SAO XIANG
Posted By: Tim Tue, Jun 30, 2015

Note that in my vase one of the attendants is holding a bull hook, a tool used to control the elephant. There are actually 2 attendants with bull hooks (see the additional photos I've attached).

This is an important change from the earlier 17th c. depictions that I would like to point out. In the early depictions, attendants are seen only with wash brooms and/or Buddhist staffs.

One possible explanation is that early SAO XIANG depictions were rendered during a period when almost no one had ever seen or been around an elephant. They would not have known what tools were used to control elephants at that time. Furthermore, the use of these cruel tools probably would not have been well received by those practicing Buddhism.

That said, I have no idea what role the man in chains plays in the depiction. Any thoughts?







Subject:Re: Chinese porcelain - Washing the elephant SAO XIANG
Posted By: Bill H Thu, Jul 02, 2015

Tim, rather than being in chains, I believe the man you mention on the vase is keeping the elephant's chains ready to re-tether the elephant after its bath. Restraining an elephant with chains is a traditional means of keeping it from harming itself or others when it is outside its fenced enclosure. Nowadays, chaining elephants on display in zoos is a matter of controversy. See link.

Best regards,

Bill H.

URL Title :elephant chains


Subject:Re: Chinese porcelain - Washing the elephant SAO XIANG
Posted By: Tim Fri, Jul 03, 2015

That makes sense. Thanks, Bill H.


Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries |