Period:Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279) Date:13th century Culture:China Medium:Silver Dimensions:H. 5 7/8 in. (14.9 cm); Diam. 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm); Diam. of rim 2 3/8 in. (6 cm); Diam. of foot 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm) Classification:Metalwork Credit Line:Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 2017 Accession Number:2017.132 This pear-shaped vessel—presumably a container of chopsticks—once belonged to an elegant silver dinner service. Its incised and punched decoration of floral patterns and intertwined dragons finds parallels in other media of this period while the name incised on its bottom, “Meiyan” (Plum Cliff) may identify the owner as Hu Ciyan (act. ca. 1260-70s), a scholar-official whose sobriquet was Meiyan. Although sometimes identified as a flower vase, the discovery of a similar vessel holding a pair of chopsticks and spoon in a 13th century tomb in Fuzhou suggests that this type of vessel (known as a zhuping) served as an upscale tableware used in banquets.
Period:Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279) Date:13th century Culture:China Medium:Silver Dimensions:H. 5 7/8 in. (14.9 cm); Diam. 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm); Diam. of rim 2 3/8 in. (6 cm); Diam. of foot 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm) Classification:Metalwork Credit Line:Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 2017 Accession Number:2017.132 This pear-shaped vessel—presumably a container of chopsticks—once belonged to an elegant silver dinner service. Its incised and punched decoration of floral patterns and intertwined dragons finds parallels in other media of this period while the name incised on its bottom, “Meiyan” (Plum Cliff) may identify the owner as Hu Ciyan (act. ca. 1260-70s), a scholar-official whose sobriquet was Meiyan. Although sometimes identified as a flower vase, the discovery of a similar vessel holding a pair of chopsticks and spoon in a 13th century tomb in Fuzhou suggests that this type of vessel (known as a zhuping) served as an upscale tableware used in banquets.