The Museum recently invited Jenny F. So, a leading expert of Chinese art to examine Asian jades and ceramics from the collection. Professor So was the senior curator of Chinese art at the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler, Smithsonian Institution, before taking on a faculty position at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. To work alongside Professor So in art storage was, even for a seasoned curator, a thrilling experience. She responded to many objects with an immediate assessment, judging from first sight whether a carving or ceramic vessel warranted further examination. Many did, and some captured Professor So’s attention for quite some time, as she explored their authenticity, age, and uses. Looking closely at minute details of materials, shapes, and decorations, So guided Museum staff in the appreciation of objects that are less well known among the members of the Bowdoin community. As a result of her reevaluation of Bowdoin’s modest but noteworthy Chinese collection, we will present a few choice selections in the new year.

Among So’s favorite pieces is a lidded porcelain box, decorated in vivid blue underglaze design on a brilliant white body. Its technical finesse is immediately apparent in the perfectly rounded shape and the flawless application of the complex décor. As So explained, the covered box originated in Jingdezhen, one of the most prestigious production centers for porcelain in China during the Ming Dynasty, a time that many consider the highpoint of the long tradition of porcelain manufacturing. The Wanli period in particular served as a golden age for porcelain production due to the rise in imperial commissions. Nearly 900 kilns were in operation in Jingdezhen and at least 20 of them specifically handled wares for the court.

This food box is a fine example of underglaze painting on high-fired porcelain. Its delightful figurative decoration revels in humorous details, as it shows a teacher surrounded by his students. Some are reading and reciting, as other are engaged in play. One of the little boys even rides a hobby-horse. Another is starting a kite. The idyllic scene of an elite education would have been a welcome gift at childbirth and other family occasions. The image is surrounded by bands of five-clawed flying dragons, a much-appreciated symbol in Chinese culture that is associated with imperial power. We have learned that a nearly identical covered box exists in the Victoria & Albert Museum collection.

Visitors to the Museum will encounter this and other Chinese works in the Markell Gallery starting February 1, 2019. On Tuesday, March 5, Professor So will return to Bowdoin for an object-based workshop on historic Chinese art. Please join us as we examine and discuss precious objects fit for the Chinese emperor!

Bowdoin Collects: Chinese Ceramics, Jades, and Paintings

Opening February 1, 2019

Bowdoin College Museum of Art