Posted 12 years ago
Budek
(314 items)
Hello Again,
Another Oriental piece, one that I've had for 10 years or so.
I just found it in a safe place,( it's been missing for years ).
I think it's beautiful, has a nice weight, is made of mixed metals, is very old,
( judging by the wear on the bottom and the thick ink crust on the interior ).
I'm not sure that the top is original to the piece, but I like that, too.
You can still see a blue enamel deep-set in the side panels,
Any idea where it was made? and is it really as old as it looks?
Thanks in advance,
have a great week-end everybody!
T.
Thank You Tony and Sean, for the love and for the comment.
It will be a Chinese 'rebus', Tony.
Bats = Fu
Bat (fu ?)
Does CW do Chinese characters yet?
The bat is a symbol of happiness and joy. The Chinese for bat (fu ?) sounds identical to the word for good fortune(fu ?) making bats a popular Chinese rebuses.
Five bats is normally a rebus of good fortune. But in this case there are only four.
Five bats together represent the ‘Five Blessings’ (wufu ??): long life, wealth, health, love of virtue and a peaceful death.
But there are only four bats, so ......
Si fu.
In the centre is the Chinese symbol of longevity.
What you have might be 'si fi peng shou'.
"Four Happinesses surround longevity".
The origin of the “four happinesses” is a poem by Hong Mai (1123-1202) who was a scholar-official during the Southern Song Dynasty:
“Sweet rain after a long drought” (jiu han feng gan yu)
“Meeting an old friend in a faraway place” (ta xiang yu gu zhi)
“The wedding night” (“the night of lighting a candle in the bridal chamber”) (dong fang hua zhu ye)
“Having one’s name on the list of successful candidates of the imperial examination” (jin bang ti ming shi)
The “Five Happinesses” consist of longevity, wealth, health and composure, virtue and the desire to die a natural death in old age. On your ink well longevity is there in the middle with the four bats and that will add up to the five. Four is not a number of good omen.
And in each corner there are four other symbols.
I might leave it at that for the moment.
Beautiful inkwell! : )
Dear Kevin, Thank you so much for all of your help, you give greatly and so kindly.
miKKo, Brat, and Bobo, Thank You for the love and Comment
Happy St. Patty's Day all!!!
You're so welcome, Budek!! A belated 'Happy St. Patrick's Day!' to you, as well! : )
Thanks for the love, Toolate2 and Woman34
best wishes to you both for a great week
Thanks for the love BHock45
Happy Spring!
stunning Budek)