Lotus Flowers in a Wood Vase: Ornament for a scholar's table
China
Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)
This piece is an example of a traditional Chinese scholar’s ornament. Carved from wood and root this piece depicts multiple lotus flowers. The Lotus flower held important symbolic value in Chinese culture. Primarily a Buddhist symbol, the lotus was known for it’s lack of imperfections and represented purity of the mind and detachment from worldly concerns. Using a natural medium to create the lotus flower reinforces the importance of examining nature and its products as a way to gain greater understanding of the world around us.
Chinese scholars characteristically spent long periods of time in isolation engaged in studies ranging from the examination Confucian texts to writing calligraphy. As a result, the art pieces they collected were often used to support their studies. Some of the most common scholar’s objects had practical purposes, such as ceramic ink wells or larger carved brush pots used to store a scholar’s calligraphy brushes. However, not all of these pieces had a practical use. Our piece is an example of a scholar’s object used to inspire thought and reflection, aiding the scholar in a less concrete but arguably more substantial way.
In order to become a scholar and enter government service in the Qing Dynasty, potential scholars were required to take a rigorous civil service examination. Upon passing this test, scholars received exemplary treatment from the government obtaining finances for their studies and reverence from other members of society. Their high position allowed scholars to acquire many art pieces for their own personal collections establishing them as one of the primary art collecting demographics under the Qing Dynasty.
This piece was gifted to Vanderbilt’s collection in 1980