Large Basin with High Relief Design of Five Dragons
Culture
Chinese
Date20th century
Mediumnephrite
Dimensionsapproximately: 33 x 17.8 cm (13 x 7 in.)
ClassificationsJades
Credit LineGift of John and Maria Dirlam
Terms
Object number2006.610
DescriptionThis 20th century masterpiece was created out of one large boulder of spinach-green nephrite. The highly polished, high-relief decoration of five dragons (associated with the Emperor, heavens, water, clouds and fertility) chasing three flaming jewels (symbolizing transcendent wisdom) amidst swirling mist and clouds was created with powerful diamond drills and the synthetic abrasive carborundum. The basin was inspired by works of similar design made during the reign of the Qianlong emperor (r. 1736-95). These prototypes, in turn, had been inspired by the “Du Mountain Wine Sea,” a huge wine container commissioned by Kublai Khan in 1265. The Du Mountain (Dushan) jade basin is said to have been used for serving wine to meritorious generals and ministers in Kublai Khan’s Guanghan Palace on Qionghua Island of Beihai Lake [in present-day Beijing]. The basin was removed during the massive destruction that marked the transition from the Yuan to the Ming dynasty. Around 1745 the Qianlong emperor recovered the Du Mountain basin when he found it at a Taoist temple. Entranced by its beauty, the emperor wrote three poems praising the basin and had these verses inscribed on the vessel. He then put it on display in a pavilion at the Round City in Behai Park, Beijing, where it can still be seen today.
Label TextThis 20th century masterpiece is created out of one large boulder of spinach-green jade. The highly polished, high-relief decoration of five dragons chasing three flaming jewels amidst swirling mist and clouds was created with powerful diamond drills and the synthetic abrasive carborundum. This basin was inspired by works of similar design made for the Qing imperial court. These prototypes, in turn, had been inspired by the Du Mountain Wine Sea, a famous wine container believed to have been commissioned by Khubilai Khan in 1265. The Qianlong emperor discovered this treasure around 1745, finding it used as a vegetable bowl at a Taoist temple. He appropriated the bowl and put it on display in a palace on an island in Behai Lake, Beijing. Qianlong praised it in three poems and had the verses inscribed on the vessel.ProvenanceJohn and Maria Dirlam, Southbridge, MA
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