Two-handled Bowl with Suspended Rings

Object Details

• Description

  The bowl has deep rounded sides and is supported on four bracket-shaped feet. The handles from which the loose rings are suspended project from the rim of the bowl; each handle depicts a pair of bats with a peach between them. Inside the bowl a blossoming plant and a bat are carved in high relief. The exterior of the bowl is decorated with low relief carving of the Three Plenties (peaches, pomegranates, and Buddha-hand citrons). Because the walls of the vessel are so thinly carved and smoothly polished, light is transmitted through the jade and the relief pattern carved on the exterior appears in shadowy outline on the interior surface of the translucent jade walls. The bat, fruit, and floral motif celebrates long life, good fortune, and fertility.

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Arts of China (November 18, 1990 to September 7, 2014)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Transfer from the National Museum of Natural History, Department of Minerology, Smithsonian Institution

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1820s, 1770s

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Bats, Art, Chinese Art, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), Peach, Nephrite, Jade, Flowers

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)