Plate with 'shou' character and stylised lotus scrolls

About this artwork

J. Spoor Bequest, Muiden

Art Historical Context

This delicate plate, featuring the Chinese character *shou* (壽)—symbolizing longevity—and intricate stylised lotus scrolls, dates to around 1680–1720. Crafted anonymously during China's late Ming to early Qing dynasty transition, it exemplifies the era's refined decorative arts, when such motifs graced everyday and ceremonial objects. The *shou*, a auspicious emblem often gifted for birthdays or to wish eternal life, pairs beautifully with lotus scrolls evoking purity and prosperity in Confucian and Buddhist traditions. The medium of "turning" suggests lathe-turned craftsmanship, likely on wood, porcelain, or a similar material, producing the plate's precise, symmetrical form (height 2.5 cm, diameter 15.5 cm). This technique allowed for smooth curves and fine detailing, highlighting artisanal skill in an age of expanding global trade. Small and elegant, it may have served as a dish for delicacies or a decorative trinket. Part of the J. Spoor Bequest from Muiden, Netherlands, this piece reflects European fascination with Asian imports, bridging cultures across continents. A charming survivor of its time, it invites us to ponder the timeless wish for long life amid swirling lotus blooms.

About the Artist

anonymous

In the vast tapestry of art history, "Anonymous" stands not as a singular individual but as a collective designation for countless unidentified creators whose works have endured across millennia. These artists, spanning prehistoric cave painters to medieval illuminators and folk craftsmen, produced the foundational layers of human visual culture. Prior to the Renaissance, when individual fame emer...