These four Chinese sculptures below were all carved in the Qing dynasty period, from stones while maximizing their original colors. They are called "俏色 (shoshoku) sculptures" in Japan.
The one in the first photo is an incense burner in the 19th century, carved from jade.
The one below is "Grapes" carved from amethyst also in the 19th century.
And these two below are both "Pomegranate" carved from agate with inlaid ruby also in the 19th century.
All the above four items were donated by Denbei Kamiya, a Japanese businessman (1856-1922), to Tokyo National Museum.
Japanese schools teach Japan's and western histories but with less focus on Asian history. So although Japanese people may know that the defeat of the Qing dynasty in the Opium War resulted in the colonization of China by western countries, they may not be aware that Chinese art and crafts were so developed and refined under that dynasty. Their exquisite beauty must have derived from the exploitation of ordinary people, but still enchant me.
I wrote about the second pomegranate in another post "Chinese Sculpture - Agate Pomegranate."
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| Incense burner in 19th century, jade, Qing dynasty 翡翠香炉 |
The one below is "Grapes" carved from amethyst also in the 19th century.
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| Grapes in 19th century, amethyst, Qing dynasty 紫水晶葡萄 |
And these two below are both "Pomegranate" carved from agate with inlaid ruby also in the 19th century.
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| Agate made pomegranate with inlaid ruby 瑪瑙石榴 |
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| Another agate made pomegranate 瑪瑙石榴 |
Japanese schools teach Japan's and western histories but with less focus on Asian history. So although Japanese people may know that the defeat of the Qing dynasty in the Opium War resulted in the colonization of China by western countries, they may not be aware that Chinese art and crafts were so developed and refined under that dynasty. Their exquisite beauty must have derived from the exploitation of ordinary people, but still enchant me.
I wrote about the second pomegranate in another post "Chinese Sculpture - Agate Pomegranate."
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東京国立博物館に行ったら前回は展示されていなかった俏色工芸を発見！上から「翡翠香炉」、「紫水晶葡萄」、「瑪瑙石榴（二つとも）」です。（二つ目の「瑪瑙石榴」についてはこちらの記事「Chinese Sculpture - Agate Pomegranate 瑪瑙石榴」もお読みください。）
東京国立博物館に行ったら前回は展示されていなかった俏色工芸を発見！上から「翡翠香炉」、「紫水晶葡萄」、「瑪瑙石榴（二つとも）」です。（二つ目の「瑪瑙石榴」についてはこちらの記事「Chinese Sculpture - Agate Pomegranate 瑪瑙石榴」もお読みください。）
清の時代ってこんなに工芸が発達したんですね。知りませんでした。民衆の血と汗の上に成り立っているのは分かっていながらやはりその美しさには感動しかありません。
もう一つ再認識したことが！ 日本語ってほんとにコンパクト。だって「翡翠香炉」は英語だと「incense burner made of jade」！ 二倍以上の長さです。
よく「簡単に訳して」、「一言で言って」とか頼まれますが無理です。漢字の奥深さ、一字が表す意味の多さにも感動しました！
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