What kind of tree is on the mirror?
I don't have any notes on what tree this is meant to represent, but it does look to me like a cassia tree, a type of flowering tree that commonly appears in Korean art.
What is the knob in the middle with holes on either side, would that be used for hanging the mirror?
A rope or handle would be threaded through the knob with holes.
Is there any significance to the symbol at the bottom of the mirror?
I'm not sure what that symbol is. My best guess is that it is a Chinese character. It may even be a Chinese character backwards which sometimes happened on mold-made works made by craftsmen who did not read Chinese themselves.
Can you please tell me anything about this exquisite plate?
I agree that this plate is absolutely exquisite! It was designed in 1967 by H. Edward Winter and is actually made of enameled copper.
This kind of aesthetic style started with avant-garde artists like Joan Miro and Wassily Kandinsky, but using these shapes as a pattern, as well as a minimal yet vibrant color palette, is typical of mid-20th century design!
Thank you, I love it!
Why is this piece called Madonna of Humility?
"Madonna of Humility" refers to the way that the Madonna is depicted here, sitting in a grassy garden instead of enthroned. It is meant to present here as a humble and (importantly) relatable mother.
The Madonna of Humility type was especially popular for private devotion as opposed to an image of the Madonna enthroned as the queen of heaven as you might see in altarpieces designed for cathedrals.
Are images / "scenes" often repeated? This vase has the same thing twice, implying to me that the artist uses this repeatedly as a "stock scene" in his portfolio, maybe on lots of vases?
There are definitely many recurring themes in Chinese vase decoration that could easily be used on multiple pieces, or multiple times on one vase of this scale!
This pair of monumental vases were designed to adorn part of the palace so the scenes recreate court life.
Other common themes are longevity, prosperity, and scholarship.
But the exact scene being duplicated implies to me that the artist just bangs these out by the dozen, like hotel paintings or something. It takes a certain skill and repetition to paint the exact subtleties repeatedly. That kinda cheapens it for me.
Lol. You probably don't want my feedback but there it is. Thanks!
We love direct feedback from visitors like that, it’s part of the reason we developed this service! I totally see what you mean, and you’re not wrong. Vases like these were produced in imperial kilns in huge quantities during imperial China with many recycled designs. So in a sense, they were made in a factory setting, but by highly skilled artisans. They were mass produced, but still expensive.
It's certainly very different than the modern Western interest in uniqueness especially in artwork.
Cool. Thanks again.
Tell me more.
This fascinating little object is a decorative hair curler! The metal would be heated with fire and then wrapped into hair to create curls.
The image of a nude young woman was a common decoration for cosmetic tools like mirrors and palettes as well.
Thank you!
Tell me more.
These two make a really interesting pair! The round jar dates to the 18th or 19th century and reflects a long standing tradition in Korea interested in subtle imperfection which reminds a viewer of the human hand that created the vessel.
The contemporary rectangular work by Kang Seok Young builds on this tradition adding a much more pronounced asymmetry in the form of a bend in the entire body of the vessel.
Tell me more.
This figure looks a bit like an image of the god Ptah, but we're not actually sure who it depicts. The kilt he wears suggests that he may be an official. His bald head or skull cap suggest that he is a priest, given the time period. (Over 1000 years later some kings were shown with skull caps as well.) He could also represent Imhotep, the architect behind the first pyramid who was later deified.
Awesome, thanks for the info :)
Was this actually used as a seat? It looks too fragile!
Yes, it was actually used as a garden sear in the early 17th century. The cloisonné decoration does look fragile, but it is made of layers upon layers of enamel, so it's pretty hard and durable. The structure of the seat is copper alloy.
Thanks!!
