A Kangxi Blanc de Chine Porcelain Crab Form Water-Pot

A Small Kangxi Blanc de Chine Porcelain Water Pot Dehua kilns, Fujian province c.1690-1710. Modelled as a crab astride a lotus leaf and with applied leaves. Small items like the present example were made for scholars, as a novelty and to serve a practical function, to carry water to mix with ink. This model is very close in style to a water pot from the Vung Tau Cargo we sold some time ago, see information lower down on this page. These were made for the Chinese at home but also Chinese in Southeast Asia, so it is not surprising to water pots in the context of a shipwreck cargo. It is clear that the whimsical novelty of these objects also appealed to Western tastes, so water pots like the present example, as well as Blanc de Chine seals, models of Guanyin and Budai were shipped to Europe as well. Xie, Crabs are normally depicted on Chinese porcelain in the context of other marine crustacea together with aquatic plants. On their own the appear only rarely and as single creatures they have a different meaning. They are used to represent achievement as Xie is a homonym for the those who have passed the first examination towards official rank, Xie. In folklore, the crab can repel bad magic and restore a man’s potency.

SOLD

The term `Scholar’s object` refers to something used by a Chinese scholar in his or her studio, it includes everything from scroll-tables, desks, screens, and chairs to the smaller objects found on the scholar’s desk. The material used for these desk objects varied greatly, from bamboo to stone, ivory, wood, and metal, but ceramics were by far the most commonly used material, even though ceramics rated lowest in ranking of importance. Bamboo, ivory, or wood might not be durable enough and metal was sometimes too heavy but ceramic objects could be thrown or moulded into an infinite variety of forms. Most of the objects made centred around the functions of writing and painting. Brushpots of different sizes and shape were needed to take the various types of brush, the same applies to brush rests. Water-droppers for adding water to dry solid ink when it was ground on an inkstone, as well as the inkstones themselves were all needed, as were water-pots and brush-washers. All of these could be made of porcelain. But these were not merely functional items, they conveyed symbolic mean, often enhancing scholarly virtues and the wish for longevity. They were meant to inspire the writer, poet, and artist but it is clear they could also exhibit a great sense of humour, sometimes having almost childlike quality. Objects for the scholar’s desk were made from many different ceramic bodies, during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) Qingbai porcelain was most frequently used, often in moulded forms. Blue and white porcelain objects became popular from the Ming dynasty onwards. By 17th and early 18th century, Blanc de Chine, and biscuit porcelain with coloured glazes such as green, aubergine or turquoise were also popular. Some of these objects were shipped to Europe at the time. The records of the Dashwood, a British trading vessel, were sold at in September 1703, this Supra-cargo, include 10,800 `square toys`. These were Blanc de Chine seals, I have bought and sold many of these over the years. Some are uncut, some have mould seals to the base and could have been used in China, there seals that were engraved, its likely these were not exported. However, the label, ‘square toys’, shows that in Britain they were seen as novelties to show friends and to be on display in cabinets. I’m not sure if the Chinese scholarly class would have approved.