Ceremonial Gate, 1728

Unknown artist, expand_more

Handcarved tileexpand_more

Gift of Ruth and Bruce Daytonexpand_more  98.61.3

This Ceremonial Gate separated two inner courtyards in a Chinese upper class house. A gate like this one would have faced a main hall such as the Wu Family Reception Hall, located nearby.

The carved tile scenes below the roofline celebrate the prosperity of a land-owing family. Depicted on the top register are the four noble agrarian professions: scholar-official, farmer, woodcutter, and fisherman. Seated at his desk the scholar-official gazes out over his garden, the farmer tills his fields with his ox, the woodcutter swings his axe, and the fisherman casts his net. The second register is composed of an inscription that reads "in celebration of bestowed glory (1728)." Two panels flank it, one a landscape scene that includes a spotted deer, a symbol of longevity in Daoist philosophy.

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Commemorative Gate (#173)
Details
Title
Ceremonial Gate
Role
Artist
Accession Number
98.61.3
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.

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