Plum Blossoms

 #ume #surimono #gakutei #japaneseprint

Its Plum Blossom Viewing season in many parts of Northern Asia especially Japan hence my choice of this #surimono print showing a cake box and plum blossom 

I hope all my readers are or have had a wonderful Lunar New year Feast ! 

Han Huang - Oxen

 Continuing the #yearoftheox theme here's a #Chinese #scroll #painting by #HanHuang

though these are #Buffalo #oxen or #bulls or maybe #cows anyway #bovines and #asian ! 

Happy Lunar New Year Everyone !

HIROSHIGE SURIMONO

 #Hiroshige #surimono #print #yearoftheox

Not a typical subject for Hiroshige  but an image showing he could equal Hokusai and other ukiyo-e artists in drawing a variety of themes and matching his compositions to the layout of various print formats. The details of the yoke harness and plow are also of interest for social history. 

I love the little detail of the farmer's beard shadow. Also the balanced use of gray middle tones to unify the separate elements of the bull the farmers clothings and the mountains in the background.

Bull Shaped Zun Vessel

 BULL SHAPED ZUN VESSEL

#yearoftheox #zun #chinesebronze 

The type of Chinese Bronze Vessel known as the Zun was often animal shaped.

How this actually worked as a vessel for liquids I do not know? Perhaps two separate liquids were poured into the front and back holes and scooped out of the middle.

I have a suspicion some of these may have been used as candle  holders or that lids are missing. 

There could have been some kind of detachable spout or lid that was made of more valuable gold or some simpler perishable material?

We can appreciate them for both their functional and sculptural qualities!