Huai'an, a historical city of Jiangsu Province, located along the Grand Canal of China, was once an important transportation hub and a major salt trading hub. Goods from the north and south were exchanged here, and cultures were fused here. It was once home to many literati, scholars and rich merchants. Ancient flowerpots are one of the many cultural relics handed down from that period. These ancient flowerpots serve both practical and aesthetic functions, preserving a wealth of information about the ancient life and aesthetics of Huaian.

This special online exhibition curated 28 representative pieces from the collection of Tiexiaxuan Museum, located in Huai’an, which specializes in the collecting of ancient flowerpots. The themes of the flowerpots cover from pastel figures of court ladies, carved porcelain, to blue and white porcelain, etc, involving multiple techniques and cultural backgrounds, presenting a historical outlook of the canal city - Huai'an.

 

Interview with Ge Qiang, curator of Tiexiaxuan Flowerpot Museum

 

Beautiful Lady pot

01 Romance of the Western Chamber

Width 6cm

Height 3.8cm

 

02 The Three Graces

Dia. 10cm

Height 7cm

 

03 kylin Deliver Son

Dia. 13cm

Height 9.8cm

 

04 Expect her son win the crown

Dia. 13cm

Height 9.8cm

 

05 The 12 floras

Dia. 13.5cm

Height 9.8cm

 

06 Playing

Dia. 9.3cm

Height 6.5cm

 

07 Lin Daiyu burying flower

Dia. 26cm

Height 20cm

 

08 You Sisters enjoying the spring

Dia. 17cm

Height 14.5cm

 

09 The heavenly maids scatter blossoms.

Dia. 19.5cm

Height 13.5cm

 

10 The four beauties

Dia. 19cm

Height 14cm

 

11 Xi Shi washing yarn on the river bank.

Dia. 18cm

Height 10cm

 

12 Beijing Opera the story of Chen Shimei

Dia. 11cm

Height 7cm

 

13 The four beauties

Dia. 26.5cm

Height 20cm

 

刻瓷盆

14 Eight Immortals of Taoism

Dia. 27cm

Height 20cm

 

15 A hermit teaching his son

Dia. 9cm

Height 5.2cm

 

16 Figure of Qiao sisters hermits

Width 10.2cm

Height 8.2cm

 

17 A hermit reading

Dia. 10.3cm

Height 8cm

 

18 Visit friends with Gu Qin

Dia. 22cm

Height 16cm

 

19 Elegant gathering

Dia. 25.5cm

Height 18.2cm

 

20 Visit friends with Gu Qin

Dia. 22cm

Height 16cm

 

21 Wang Xizhi admiring crane

Dia. 9.5cm

Height 7.2cm

 

22 Lin Hejing admiring crane

Dia. 8.5cm

Height 6cm

 

23 MILKY WAY LOVERS

Width 11cm

Length 17cm

Height 5.6cm

 

Blue-and-white pot

 

24 Decoration of small collection on the desk

Dia. 12cm

Height 9.5cm

 

25 Beautiful flowers for the four seasons

Dia. 16cm

Height 12cm

 

26 Blue and white landscape

Dia. 11.5cm

Height 6.7cm

 

27 Seeking friends on the branch

Dia. 10cm

Height 8.2cm

 

28 Greetings

Dia. 12cm

Height 8.5cm

 

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You can also view the exhibition on the following platforms:

 

Website：http://www.ccchague.org/

 

Official Wechat：海牙中国文化中心 

 

Facebook：China Cultural Center Den Haag

https://www.facebook.com/CCCDenHaag

 

YouTube：China Cultural Center_Den Haag

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCerfCmPfBuTcVn0DGgNO4qQ

 

Instagram: chinaculturalcenterdenhaag

https://www.instagram.com/chinaculturalcenterdenhaag/