Help With Interpretation Behind These Motifs

Discussion in 'Pottery, Glass, and Porcelain' started by georgeingraham, Feb 11, 2021.

  1. georgeingraham

    georgeingraham Well-Known Member

    Some of you are very good with interpreting themes and scenes, I would like to ask what symbolic meaning or parable the potter is trying to tell in these motifs on this Shiwan piece.

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  2. Roaring20s

    Roaring20s Well-Known Member

    Looks like a cautionary tale about money.
    One side trapped by it.
    The other side using it well.

    James.
     
  3. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    i like dat !!!......:happy:
     
    georgeingraham likes this.
  4. georgeingraham

    georgeingraham Well-Known Member

    Well, I have made a little progress, but not all..

    The archaic pictograph symbol to the left of what I am calling the front and beginning of the story line represents, "spring water flowing from a cave or from the mouth of a spring".

    The pictograph symbol on the right I think simply represents the lower part of the symbol for seedling breaking though soil, so I can only guess the potter was suggesting, "breaking ground/soil"

    Because this vase is suppose to be in the form of a coin, I think the square hole in the center which represents, "earth" has additional meaning.

    In a nutshell, I see the struggle or hardship from working or toiling the earth, obtaining and working with spring water for the purpose of breaking ground or harvesting.

    I am not confident enough about deciphering exactly the archaic symbols on the reverse side. No luck finding close enough examples. There may be a representation to a suspended musical instrument, but that is vague. Other than that, I think overall it shows celebration and being rewarded for their hard work and harvest.

    That is all I have and best guesses so far :)

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    Last edited: Feb 14, 2021
    Roaring20s and anundverkaufen like this.
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