Antique Shiwan Ware Wall Pocket Chopsticks Holder, China (16966A)

Description

Ceramics produced in Shiwan, known as Shiwan ware, are known for their brilliant flambé—or flame-like quality – glazes as displayed in the apple green glaze of this chopstick holder, a prototypical piece of Shiwan ware. Known as the” Pottery Capital” for centuries, Shiwan produced daily wares for every conceivable need – pots, cups, plates, vessels, and other utilitarian pieces

Chopsticks are very significant in China and are often included in a bride’s dowry because the word for chopstick (kuaizi) is also a pun which means “speedy arrival on sons’ (kuaizi).  Chopsticks were traditionally fastened above the bride’s room door to usher a speedy pregnancy.

This chopstick holder has the tradition four characters across the top – “baize qiansun,” – a wish for a hundred sons and a thousand grandsons. It is centered by upside down bat above and holding a coin in its mouth, which is a wish for blessings in front of your eyes.   The hole is the back is for hanging it on the wall and holes on the bottom for keeping the individual sticks in place. A piece very similar to this is in the n exhibition catalogue of Shiwan Ceramics at the Chinese Cultural Foundation of San Francisco on page 51.

Chopsticks holders are unique kitchen accessories that can  hold utensils, dried flowers and other objects and is a fitting and memorable wedding gift.

Sources

Frederikke S. Scollard and Terese Tse Bartholomew, Shiwan Ceramics: Beauty, Color and Passion, Catalogue of the Exhibition by the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco, 1994.

Terese Tse Bartholomew, Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art, San Francisco, Asian Art Museum, 2006.