Hand warmer, early 17th century
Zhang Mingqiexpand_more
Red copperexpand_more
Bequest of Bruce B. Daytonexpand_more 2016.33.15a,b
On View in Gallery 214expand_more
A native of Jiaxing in Zhejiang province, Zhang Mingqi was regarded as one of the four greatest craftsmen of the late Ming dynasty. While the other three specialized in crafts including bamboo carving, Yixing pottery, and shell carving and inlay, Zhang was the most well-known producer of handwarmers of the late Ming dynasty. Because of his mastery, his nickname was Zhanglu, or “Handwarmer Zhang”. He typically worked with red copper and often used a hammering technique to shape his works. The result was that it was less likely for the handwarmers to rust. He was also known for creating components that fit together perfectly, due to his attention to precision. The lids of his works are often composed of an openwork netting pattern, inspired by bamboo basket weaving but produced with copper. He always carved his name in seal script on the underside of his works – Zhang Mingqi zhi (Made by Zhang Mingqi).
Details
- Title
- Hand warmer
- Role
- Maker
- Accession Number
- 2016.33.15a,b
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.