Help With Interpretation Behind These Motifs

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

  1. georgeingraham

    georgeingraham Active 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 Active 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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