Chinese Vase with Carved Animals
DateQing Dynasty, 19th century
Object NameVase
Mediumsoapstone
ClassificationsApplied Art
DimensionsOverall: Height: 11 cm, Depth: 10 cm, Width: 22.5 cm
AcquisitionPresented in 1947.
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDMS024911
About MeCarved Chinese green, black and red soapstone vase featuring animals including, monkeys, bird, bats and a lizard.
Animals form an integral part of Chinese culture, with each one having some symbolic meaning. For example, the monkey represents fun and energy and the bat, happiness and joy.
Hardstone carving is a form of decorative art that has been a part of Chinese culture for over 3,000 years. This is largely due to many of the precious and semi-precious stones used, such as jade, turquoise, malachite, quartz and agate, occurring naturally in certain territories of China.
These different types of stones feature a wide variety of properties that Chinese artists were able to exploit, incorporating the natural coloration and textural qualities of the stones into their designs. Soapstone in particular has a wide colour range, from white through to almost black, depending on its composition. It is so named because of its soap like texture that derives from a 30% to 80% talc content, which also gives it its softness, making it easy to intricately carve.
James Cromar Watt
Qing Dynasty, 18th - 19th century
Qing Dynasty, possibly 19th century
Qing Dynasty, possibly 19th century
Qing Dynasty, possibly 19th century
Possibly 19th century
James Cromar Watt
Qing Dynasty, QianlongJaiqing Period, 1796 - 1820
James Cromar Watt
Qing Dynasty 18th - 19th century
Qing Dynasty, possibly 19th century
James Cromar Watt
19th Century
