Art Resource - ART201393

Conceptually similar

ART438488

ART397620

ART305941

ART397621

ART397622

ART366095

ART438474

ART341923

ART193403

ART186327

ART182467

ART211392

ART397617

ART397618

ART438486

ART535330

ART306244

ART193438

ART193437

ART201385

Ding Jinchang

A basket of flowers, Ding family of the Jinchang pavillion, Suzhou, 1690. The inscription on this print identifies the Ding family as coming from [near] the Jinchang pavillion. The Jinchang pavillion was near the Chang gate, in north-western Suzhou. This is the area where the district of Taohuawu was located, which had many hundreds of print workshops in the early Qing dynasty. Each print is of an auspicious subject accompanied by a verse which is a pun on the motifs depicted.The basket is an attribute of Lan Caihe, one of the Eight Immortals. It represented a receptacle of riches and was a motif which was often used to evoke harmony. In this case, it comes with the wish that one's luck would be as fragrant and as plentiful as the flowers in the basket. The magnolia, wild apple and peony are all symbols of spring, and so this print would presumably have been used during the Chinese New Year. When the magnolia and wild apple are depicted together, it means, 'May your halls be rich and honoured'. The peony was also known as fugui hua, the flower of riches and honour.
OA, 1906.11-28.3

Location British Museum/London/Great Britain

Unique Identifier ART201393

Type Image

Purpose Public

Size 1600px × 1274px

Photo Credit Erich Lessing / Art Resource, NY

Add to lightbox

Add to cart