Decorative Objects
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Decorative Objects
Chinese and Japanese artists and craftsmen have used almost every possible material to create objects that would be appreciated more for their beauty than for any functional purpose. Carvings of wood and jade, ornamental ceramics, decorative metal pieces, and paintings in the form of hanging scrolls, album leaves, and screens attest to the great breadth of artistic output.
The screen format developed to serve a purpose: it functioned as a kind of movable wall that could divide space, insure privacy, or help block drafts. Yet, screens also provided ideal surfaces for painting and other kinds of decoration. The images on screens are often related to well-known stories or poems through visual narrative or symbolic imagery. Like screens, hanging scrolls are traditionally changed on a seasonal basis or on special occasions. Unlike hanging scrolls and screens, paintings made for albums were intended to be taken out for intimate viewing by their owners alone or with visiting friends.
While many Chinese and Japanese decorative works were created for domestic tastes and markets, the large Japanese octagonal jar and the covered bowl from the Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection exemplify the ceramics painted with patterns that were primarily created for export to Europe.
