Pear-shaped blue-and-white vase
"This porcelain vessel dating from the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368 AD) is shaped like a pear, thus is called the pear-shaped blue-and-white vase. Beautifully modeled in shape, it is vividly painted in exquisite blue-and-white glazes using colored dots of varied intensity in the pigment application. It is an exceptional piece of Yuan blue-and-white ware. Pear-shaped vases with flared lips were a form of wine vessel that came increasingly to be used for flower arranging. The design combines the Yuan dynasty fashion for drama with an expression of the martial spirit of the Qin dynasty general, Meng Tian. Though the story happened in Qin, the peoples’ clothing and objects are all in the Yuan style, reflecting the integration of Mongol and Han Chinese culture at that time."
The characters reads General Meng Tian
"General Mengtian"
The portrait of General Meng Tian on the vase
"This painting illustrates a story of General Meng Tian,who served the first Emperor of China in the 3rd century B.C..According to the command of Emperor,General Meng Tian recruited civilians to constructing the Great Wall,for defending the empire against northern barbarians.
The painting is telling a story about military recruitment."
A man was seized by the soldiers
"On
the left side, there is a man kneeling down on the ground, and a
soldier behind him is grabbing his collar.
It
suggests this man planned to escape from the recruitment of military
service but he was seized by soldiers."
Soldier with a bow in his hand
"Moving
around the vase, another soldier stands in front of the General Meng
Tian, giving him a report while pointing with his left hand to the
two figures in the last image: the soldier and the captive."
General Mengtian sitting on the chair,with a guard behind her.
"General
Meng Tian, who is sitting on a chair, listening to the soldier, and
raising his right hand, looks like he is going to announce the
punishment for the captive.
A
subordinate stands behind him holding up a banner with the General’s
name.
Dotted
among these figures are pines, bamboos, mountains and rocks.
The
design of the vase combines the Yuan Dynasty’s fashion for drama.
That is why although the story happens in Qin Dynasty, the people’s
clothing and objects are all in the Yuan style."
Line drawn image of the vase painting.
线上展览策划—刘宇驰
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