In this thesis I explore a type of nineteenth century Chinese-made porcelain decorated with human figures and related texts. I look for possible explanations for the fact that this group has...Show moreIn this thesis I explore a type of nineteenth century Chinese-made porcelain decorated with human figures and related texts. I look for possible explanations for the fact that this group has received little attention. I explore the source of the illustrations from a seventeenth century Chinese wood-block printed book showing forty iconic historical figures. My analysis and comparison of the source of the illustrations with the features of the decorated porcelain suggest that the decorations are organized in a consistent and rational way. The visual impact of the icons of exemplary figures on the porcelain becomes more information than decoration.Show less
In this thesis I investigate the development of a supplementary design in Chinese ceramics, the plantain leaf design. I propose that the triangles on archaic bronzes do not represent (plantain)...Show moreIn this thesis I investigate the development of a supplementary design in Chinese ceramics, the plantain leaf design. I propose that the triangles on archaic bronzes do not represent (plantain) leaves and thus should not be referred to as jiāoyèwén ‘plantain leaf design’. During the Yuan dynasty, however, one specific type of banded leaf design is developed that can be consistently referred to as jiāoyèwén ‘plantain leaf design’. I map out the developments of the different banded leaf designs, and seek to show that the triangle design on archaic bronzes played an integral part in the development of the plantain leaf design of the Yuan dynasty. These developments are discussed in light of ‘the uses of the past’ initially described by David Lowenthal.Show less
