Bowl with auspicious treasures and Chinese longevity character 1392 - 1910

Curator: Looking at this object, what is your initial read on it? Editor: Visually, the piece strikes me as incredibly tactile. The texture of the ceramic and the muted blue decoration gives it a sort of worn, comforting aesthetic. I'm immediately drawn to thinking about its manufacture—how something so simple could’ve been created so carefully by hand. Curator: It's wonderful that you picked up on its inviting nature! We're examining a "Bowl with auspicious treasures and Chinese longevity character" created by an anonymous artist somewhere between 1392 and 1910, currently residing at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Editor: Over half a millennium! That's mind-boggling! Were these types of ceramic bowls utilitarian objects, or were they more symbolic in their domestic context? Curator: Indeed. The cultural coding is quite explicit. The "shou" character embodies longevity and well-being, functioning as a charm against life's unpredictable misfortunes. Its mere presence in a domestic setting would invite, at the very least, auspicious consideration. Editor: So it becomes almost like a form of embodied wish, woven into the everyday existence of the users? Were they widely accessible to the common people or more precious items limited to wealthier echelons of society? That could really change how we see it as an indicator of culture, craft, or status. Curator: Good question. Their widespread distribution makes them excellent time capsules for their respective historical contexts. It encourages viewers like us to understand objects within webs of history. Editor: Absolutely. It gives us tangible means for exploring production and class across time. Looking at it closely has definitely gotten me thinking about use, access, and intention of design over time. Thanks for sharing! Curator: Of course! Thinking of art as vessels of meaning makes you want to explore your own memory, no?