Octagonal plate

Nymphenburg Porcelain Manufactory|Höchst Manufactory

ca. 1760 · Hard-paste porcelain · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

This scene represents the Japanese version of a Chinese tale known as the "child smashing the urn", concerning Sima Guang, a distinguished historian and stateman of the 11th century. As a young boy he rescued a playmate who was drowning in a large water jar by throwing a rock and breaking the jar, whereupon the boy flowed out with the water. In the Japanese version, seen here, a third person pulls the boy from the jar, making Sima Guang's action unnecessary.

Artist

Nymphenburg Porcelain Manufactory|Höchst Manufactory

Date

ca. 1760

Medium

Hard-paste porcelain

Culture

German, probably Höchst or Nymphenburg

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

The Lesley and Emma Sheafer Collection, Bequest of Emma A. Sheafer, 1973