Art and Design: elephant,

2015年8月12日星期三

elephant,

British Museum 新增了 4 張新相片。

It’s ‪#‎WorldElephantDay‬! Peruse these playful pachyderms in the collection http://ow.ly/QNMzQ

pachyderm

ˈpakɪdəːm/

noun

a very large mammal with thick skin, especially an elephant, rhinoceros, or hippopotamus.

「 Kakiemon elephants. From Japan, Edo period, late 17th century.

These splendid elephants are made from porcelain with a milky-white glaze called nigoshide, decorated with brilliant overglaze enamels in yellow, red, green and blue -- in the so-called ‘Kakiemon’ style. Many such models of animals, such as dogs, cats, deer, boars and horses, were made as ornaments for European mantelpieces.

Real elephants would not have been seen in Japan at this time, and these unusual examples were likely ordered specially by merchants of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) for export. http://ow.ly/QO44S 」

「 Rembrandt van Rijn, An Elephant, a drawing. The Netherlands, around 1637.

This is one of several drawings by Rembrandt of female elephants in different poses. This elephant may even be one called 'Hansken', a female despite her name, known to have been in Holland in 1641.

The drawing, in black chalk and charcoal, shows a clear mastery of form and technique. While Rembrandt drew animals for use in his paintings and etchings, this charming elephant does not appear in any known work. Clearly made from life, it stands on its own as an independent work of art. http://ow.ly/QO3KF 」

「 Black Glaze pourer (askos) in the form of an elephant. Roman, 4th-3rd century BC. From Vulci (now in Lazio, Italy).

This vase would have been used at table to pour small quantities of liquids such as oil. The main body of the vase was wheel-thrown with the trunk, legs and other details added separately. Decoration in red paint was then added around the body and on the ears and eyes. The black finish on the body is not in fact a glaze, which is a liquid suspension of glass. Rather, the vessel was immersed into a thin mixture of clay and water, known as a slip, before firing. http://ow.ly/QO3VJ 」

「 Gold elephants. Asante (Ashanti), 19th century. From Ghana.

Gold ornaments of the Asante were often shaped into animals, birds, fish and fruit. Goldsmiths were highly specialized craftsmen who in the nineteenth century enjoyed royal patronage. They could cast major items of adornment for senior chiefs only with the permission of the Asantehene, the King of the Asante, who received taxes for the manufacture of the item. http://ow.ly/QO4pK 」

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