掃墳 (FOR THE LOST), 2023
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1. Translating the title, 掃墳
2. Ceramics
3. Flora
4. Behind the scenes
1. Translating the Chinese title, 掃墳
掃墳 (sǎo fén), means ‘to tomb sweep’ in Chinese. The Qing Ming Festival (清明節, qīng míng jié) every April is when we visit the tombs of our ancestors, make offerings, and clean the gravesites. Offerings include incense, uneaten food, and joss paper, which is a type of incense paper that is burned to signify spirit money for the afterlife.2. Ceramics
The ceramics featured are from a number of different shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea. The marine encrusted celadon dish from the 1300s was salvaged in 1989 from a South Asian medieval trading vessel loaded with Thai ceramics. More recent shipwrecks include the following: three Chinese ships bound for Java (formerly Batavia) that sank in the 17th and early 18th centuries; the Dutch East India Company ship Geldemalsen that sank in 1752 (and lost 80 members of its crew; this vessel’s cargo is known as the “Nanking Cargo”); and the Tek Sing, a large Chinese ship that wrecked in 1822 on the Belvidere Reef near Gaspar Island in transit from Amoy to Batavia (Java). In addition to the 350,000 pieces of Chinese porcelain in its cargo, nearly 2,000 people were aboard the Tek Sing, and nearly all were lost in the wreck.
Box
Made in China, about 1640
Made of Hard-Paste Porcelain
H. 2.875”, Diam. 3”
Museum purchase, R1985.1.25
Made in China, about 1640
Made of Hard-Paste Porcelain
H. 2.875”, Diam. 3”
Museum purchase, R1985.1.25
Saucer
Made in China, about 1690
Made of Hard-Paste Porcelain
H. 1.25”, Diam. 5.25”
Museum purchase, R1992.4.2
Made in China, about 1690
Made of Hard-Paste Porcelain
H. 1.25”, Diam. 5.25”
Museum purchase, R1992.4.2
Bowl
Made in Jingdezhen, China, about 1750–1751
Made of Hard-Paste Porcelain
H. 3.25”, Diam. 7.5”
Museum purchase, R1986.2.4
Made in Jingdezhen, China, about 1750–1751
Made of Hard-Paste Porcelain
H. 3.25”, Diam. 7.5”
Museum purchase, R1986.2.4
Dish
Made in Jingdezhen, China, about 1750–1751
Made of Hard-Paste Porcelain
H. .75”, Diam. 4.25”
Museum purchase, R1986.2.6
Made in Jingdezhen, China, about 1750–1751
Made of Hard-Paste Porcelain
H. .75”, Diam. 4.25”
Museum purchase, R1986.2.6
“Sea Sculpture”
Made in China, 1690–1695
Made of Hard-Paste Porcelain
H. 4.5”, W. 5.75”
Museum purchase, R1992.4.32
Made in China, 1690–1695
Made of Hard-Paste Porcelain
H. 4.5”, W. 5.75”
Museum purchase, R1992.4.32
Dish
Made in China, about 1822
Made of Hard-Paste Porcelain
H. 1.25”, Diam. 5.875”
Museum purchase, R2001.1.1
Made in China, about 1822
Made of Hard-Paste Porcelain
H. 1.25”, Diam. 5.875”
Museum purchase, R2001.1.1
Dish
Made in China, about 1822
Made of Hard-Paste Porcelain
H. 2.5”, Diam. 6.5”
Museum purchase, R2001.1.5
Made in China, about 1822
Made of Hard-Paste Porcelain
H. 2.5”, Diam. 6.5”
Museum purchase, R2001.1.5
Tea Bowl
Made in China, 1720–1725
Made of Hard-Paste Porcelain
H. 1.5”, Diam. 2.75”
Museum purchase with funds provided through the Herbert McKay Fund, 2008.12.2
Made in China, 1720–1725
Made of Hard-Paste Porcelain
H. 1.5”, Diam. 2.75”
Museum purchase with funds provided through the Herbert McKay Fund, 2008.12.2
Tea Bowl
Made in China, 1635–1645
Made of Hard-Paste Porcelain
H. 1.75”, Diam. 3.25”
Museum purchase, R1985.1.18
Made in China, 1635–1645
Made of Hard-Paste Porcelain
H. 1.75”, Diam. 3.25”
Museum purchase, R1985.1.18
Dish
Made in China, about 1822
Made of Hard-Paste Porcelain
H. 1.5”, Diam. 7.5”
Museum purchase, R2001.1.2
Made in China, about 1822
Made of Hard-Paste Porcelain
H. 1.5”, Diam. 7.5”
Museum purchase, R2001.1.2
Dish
Made in Thailand, 1300–1399
Made of Earthenware
H. 3.25”, Diam. 11.75”
Museum purchase, R1990.1.2
Made in Thailand, 1300–1399
Made of Earthenware
H. 3.25”, Diam. 11.75”
Museum purchase, R1990.1.2
3. Flora
Chinese privet (refers to Ligustrum sinense or Ligustrum lucidum) is native to East Asia, in particular southern China, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Its berries and seeds have a history of traditional medicinal use in China. It was introduced to the U.S. in 1852 as an ornamental hedge and is considered an invasive species in the southeastern U.S.4. Behind the scenes
Many thanks to the W&L and Lexington community members who pitched in to fold joss paper ingots!
Pictured to left: early planning sketch by artist.
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