Chinese – Pamplin Collection

Military Figures

Myrian Cavalli — Sun, 20 Feb 2022 09:05:16 +0000

Han dynasty items, dating ca. 206 BCE-220 CE. The military figures were placed in the tomb to protect the deceased. They are depicted in leather tunics and carrying weapons. Note the shape of the bronze arrowheads, as they are pyramid form rather than of a flattened triangular shape.

Soldiers on warhorses

Myrian Cavalli — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 09:07:00 +0000

The horses and the riders are ready for battle, and the animals show us how horses would have been adorned before a battle. The horses are depicted as nearly celestial, with oversized chests and very developed bodies atop strong legs that could have carried their riders safely into and out of battle.

Rose Canton

Myrian Cavalli — Sat, 02 Oct 2021 19:21:00 +0000

Rose Canton serving dish. Formed vessel in traditional “shrimp dish” style. Heavily gilded handle. Qing dynasty, 19th century.

5,000 years of Chinese art and history, with pieces that have been exhibited in museums nationwide

Myrian Cavalli — Sat, 21 Nov 2020 21:16:07 +0000

Dog, Han Dynasty

206 BCE-220 CE, Glazed earthenware, 15.5 x 18 x 14.5 inches. During the Han dynasty, dogs of various types were frequently placed in tombs. The most common was a mastiff-type animal usually shown standing on all four legs. This long-necked dog is unusual in both color and design. Although seated with paws under his body, his neck cranes upward as if detecting a sudden intruder. With eyes bulging and ears alert, he seems ready to bark in defense of his master’s tomb just as he might have greeted a visitor in the family courtyard. As watchdog and gatekeeper, perhaps his role in the tomb can be compared with other guardian figures of the Han dynasty that, however, usually took on a more mythical characterization.

Ming Vase

Myrian Cavalli — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 17:17:55 +0000

The Ming vase possesses a very rare color combination, known as Fa Hua, applied to a shape that is very difficult to execute well and is known as a mei ping. Mei ping vases were made to hold the first blossoms of spring, and were typically produced with a glaze of celadon or decorated in underglaze blue and white motifs.

Rose Medallion Tazza

Myrian Cavalli — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 18:20:59 +0000

The tazza was produced for a marriage. It supports the twin fish motif, of importance to Asians, yet the colors and other design elements are typical of items made for export to Western consumers. This combination of colors and motifs makes this specimen quite unusual, and potentially a special order for the marrying couple.

Rose Medallion Garden Barrel

Myrian Cavalli — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 00:20:12 +0000

The garden barrel would have provided a seat for contemplation, with the cool porcelain making the garden pleasurable on a hot day.

Ceremonial bronze offering dish or censer is Zhou

Myrian Cavalli — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 16:51:51 +0000

Dynasty, 1046 –256 BCE. This dish was made during the time when humans and animals were sacrificed and placed in tombs, with offering items such as this bronze dish. Stylized demon faces on the handles provide extra security for the deceased.

Bronze sword, made ca. 300 BCE. Looking closely at the handle/hilt, it is possible to see the remains of the original fabric wrapping. This item would have been used in battle, and then placed in the tomb with the deceased for use in the afterlife.

Wei dynasty (386-556 CE) soldier.

Myrian Cavalli — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 16:40:13 +0000

This figure is depicted in battle dress, and poses with a full body shield. The task of this statue would have been to defend and protect the deceased in the afterlife.

From the Collections’ very large grouping of Chinese materials are these neolithic vessels,

Myrian Cavalli — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 14:50:27 +0000

all dating to approximately 2500 BCE. The larger jars were sometimes buried in the ground, up to their beginning of the decoration, to give them stability.

This is a long-necked ewer, perhaps for wine, of the same age. Ceramics from China’s stone age are rare, and important to our understanding of Chinese culture, as it existed nearly 5,000 years ago.