| Ming and Qing Dynasty Furniture Study Society |
In the history of Chinese copper furnaces, Xuande furnace is a well-deserved pearl.
It broke through tradition and was cast in brass, which is an important process in the history of Chinese bronze; it has a remarkable status, named after the emperor's era name, and is a strange flower in traditional utensils.
How many literati were obsessed with the color of its skin, and how many gentlemen were obsessed with the hearth shape. In fact, its furnace ear is also a part that should not be underestimated, and it has its own world.
This small editor will take you to see it.
In the third year of Ming Xuande, Lü Zhen, the imperial smith of the Ministry of Works and the court of the Ministry of Rites, and Wu Bangzuo, a servant of the Ministry of Works, used tens of thousands of pounds of "wind-ground copper" (brass) from siam (present-day Thailand) to pay tribute to the Ministry of Works to cast Ding Yi for the inner court of the suburban temple, and the Xuande furnace was thus presented.
In addition to the wind grinding copper raw materials, it also adds several precious metal ores such as gold, silver and tin, and after six or even twelve castings, it finally achieves excellent texture.
Qing three milk foot bridge ear Xuande furnace
Its shape is even more impressive, with reference to the "Xuanhe BoguLu", "Archaeological Map" and other classics, combined with the Xia, Shang, And Wednesday dynasty bronzes and the elegant styles in the famous kilns of Ge, Guan, Jun, Ding and other famous kilns treasured by the Inner House, which is really a well-deserved "collector".
In the end, the Xuande furnace was presented to the eyes of the world with a perfect shape and skin color, which attracted princes and nobles, literati and inkers to bend their waists, and a large number of officials and private imitations emerged in an endless stream. Xuande furnace also refers not only to xuande year copper furnace, but also to the xuande copper furnace imitated by the later dynasty.
Illustration of Ming's "Reconstruction of Xuanhe Bogutu"
The beauty of Xuande furnace lies in color, shape, and ear, and there is a beauty of balance and coordination. Many Xuande furnace-shaped models are named after amphora, such as cupola ear stoves, worm ear stoves, bridge ear stoves, etc.
There are many forms of furnace ears, as many as fifty kinds, simple ones such as halberd ears, bridge ears, cupola ears, and complex ones have hammer ears, lion ears, etc., each with its own rhyme.
Ming Copper Ear Cream Foot Furnace Collection of the Palace Museum
The Cupola Ear, also known as the Chaotian Ear, is a classic shape in the Xuande furnace ear. The ears stand upright, as if they have the potential to soar into the sky, with the intention of reverence for heaven. Symmetrically distributed at both ends of the mouth and perpendicular to the mouth edge. There are two kinds of round and square, most of which are round.
At the beginning of the design, the Cupola Ear Furnace gave the meaning of worshiping the ancestors of heaven and believing in sacrifices, which deeply possessed the charm of the ancient bronze Ding of the Shang zhou Dynasty, so it had the title of the head type of Xuande furnace.
The ancients believed that this furnace could communicate with heaven and earth with its ears facing the sky, and Emperor Xuanzong extended this intention to place it in the Qianqing Palace and other government halls.
Qing Chong Tian Ear Milk Foot Furnace Qing Palace Old Collection
Ming Chong Ear Milk Foot Furnace Qing Palace Old Collection
Dragon ears, curved like worms, gentle and rounded, are actually "dragon shape Jianye". From a distance, it is like a double dragon lying on the furnace body, with the image of a hidden dragon, with the meaning of obscurity.
Both ends of the ear are at the neck position, and in later years, its tail gradually extends to the abdomen of the furnace.
According to historical records, the dragon ear furnace was deeply loved by Xuanzong and placed it in the study as a companion. The Xuande Ding Yi Genealogy praises his "style and elegance as the crown of all furnaces".
Ming Dragon Ear Ring Foot Furnace Qing Palace Old Collection
Qing Dragon Ear Ring Foot Furnace Qing Palace Old Collection
Bridge ears, both ears diagonally up on the edge of the mouth, facing squarely like a rainbow bridge. According to the difference between the circle and the flat of the hongqiao, it can be further divided into tiger's eye bridge ear and phoenix eye bridge ear.
The bridge, tongda, has the meaning of "preaching and solving puzzles, reaching like a bridge", taken from the allusion of listening to the scriptures around the bridge. According to legend, Emperor Ming of Han once personally visited the Guozijian and ordered The Doctor to offer wine to preach the history of the scriptures, and tens of thousands of scholars sat around and listened to the lectures.
According to the Xuande Ding Yi Genealogy, Xuanzong once cast three bridge ear furnaces to give Gongbu Shangshu and left and right attendants.
Phoenix-eye bridge ear stove
Tiger's Eye Bridge Ear Stove
Qingqiao ear milk foot furnace Qing palace old collection
Qingqiao ear low foot furnace Qing Palace old collection
The crown ear, also known as the "judge's ear", is upturned at both ends, so named for its resembling the wings on an ancient pipe cap. The type of vessel of the imperial crown ear furnace has always been dedicated to the court, and it contains the meaning of royal majesty.
Emperor Xuanzong awarded zhan shifu, Hanlin yuan, and guozijian in this style of furnace, which also means "adding officials to the lord".
Ming Dynasty crown ear three-legged furnace Qing Palace old collection
The halberd ear, named because its ears are like the halberd in the weapon, the halberd is a fighting weapon that combines the function of the spear and the go, taking the shape of the weapon, with the meaning of protection.
Emperor Xuanzong used the Halberd Furnace to give the Shangshu of the Punishment Department, which is the so-called executioner Keye, which is consistent with the characteristics of the Halberd.
Ming Yuan'er high circle foot furnace Qing Palace old collection
Qing Ji ear ring foot furnace Qing Palace old collection
The ears of the pisces, whose ears are fish-shaped, are similar to the shape of the ear of the halberd ear, and the lower end of the fish ear has a fork to represent the tail of the fish, which can distinguish the two in this way. Taking the meaning of "the joy of fish and water", Emperor Xuanzong placed it in the secret room of Yanju (now the living room).
Ming Fish ear ring foot furnace Qing Palace old collection
Lion ears, taking the shape of a lion's head, the lion is the head of a hundred beasts, and it has its own majesty. Emperor Xuanzong made the lion's ear furnace and gave it to military dignitaries such as Shangshu and Dadu Governor of the Army, and took their prestige to lead the six armies.
Qing Xuande lion ear copper incense burner
Ming Lion Ear Luxury Mouth Animal Foot Furnace Qing Palace Old Collection
Elephant ears, elephants are regarded by the ancients as auspicious beasts, with the auspicious meaning of "Taiping has elephants". After Xuanzong made the elephant ear furnace, he rewarded it to Shangshu and Shilang of the Ministry of Works, which had the meaning of rewarding him for not being afraid of hard work and carrying heavy burdens.
Qing Elephant ear furnace with seats
In addition, there are also the ear of the heavenly chicken ear that takes the meaning of luan phoenix and singing, the love of husband and wife, as well as the dragon ear, the ear of the dragon, the ear of the dragon, the ear of ruyi, the ear of the ring, the ear of the bead, the ear of the plate and so on.
Although the furnace lug is only one of the components of the furnace, it has its own unique temperament.
Behind it may contain a ritual system for the gods, but also a sustenance for a better life, or simple or complex are the ingenuity, can not be despised because they are components.
Xuande chestnut brown copper furnace Collection of the Palace Museum
Small bridge ear blunt cone foot Xuande furnace Guangdong Provincial Museum collection
Bridge Ear Xuande Furnace Collection of victoria and Albert Museum
Xuande Furnace Collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Sprinkled gold amphora with seat Xuande furnace Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Binaural belt seat Xuande furnace Collection of the British Museum
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