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Spirit Wall

Spirit Wall

Qiao family workshop

Spirit walls (zhàobì) or spirit screens (yǐngbì) stood in front of the entrances of temples, sacred precincts, and private residences in China. Their placement served to prevent evil spirits, believed to travel only in straight lines, from entering, as well as to block the view of passersby. Many were decorated with auspicious symbols, characters, or phrases. This central element from one such wall was created in the Shanxi province by twenty apprentice clay workers in the workshop of the Qiao family during the Ming Dynasty. It is composed of four separate square pieces of hollow ceramic. In its center are two dragons, along with lotus blossoms and pods. In the upper corners are phoenixes, while the lower corners are occupied by lions.
Artist
Qiao family workshop
(Chinese)
Title
Spirit Wall
Date
1567
Period
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Longqing Reign Period (1567-1572)
Medium
Earthenware with glaze
Dimensions
52 x 52 in. Overall
Credit
Ineva T. Reilly Endowment Fund purchase
Accession No.
1999.70a-d
Classification
Architectural Decoration
Geography
China

Related

1999, sold by Kaikodo (New York, NY) to the Elvehjem Museum of Art [now called Chazen Museum of Art]

  • Elvehjem Museum of Art. "Bulletin/Biennial Report 1999-2001." Madison: Elvehjem Museum of Art, 2002. p. 81
  • Elvehjem Museum of Art. "Artscene." Vol. 16, No. 3, Spring 2000. p. 13

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