Gourd-shaped bottle

19th century

The gourd is a perennial favorite in Chinese and Japanese design and carries several auspicious meanings. It makes a natural vessel when hollowed out and thus serves as a symbol of abundance. The gourd's curling vines and twining tendrils on this Nabeshima bottle imply the continuity of successive generations, while its many seeds suggest fertility.

Porcelain with underglaze

6 11/16 x 13 5/8 x 11/16 in. (17 x 1.8 x 34.6cm)

Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection

60.32

Not currently on view

Resources

Published ReferencesFuller, Richard E. "Japanese Art in the Seattle Art Museum: An Historical Sketch." Seattle, WA: Seattle Art Museum, 1960 ("Presented in commemoration of the Hundredth Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and the United States of America"), no. 157

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