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Belt Plaques

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Purchased with funds provided by the Bessie Timon Endowment Fund.
Contact us at copyright@samuseum.org for rights and reproduction of this image. Photography by Ansen Seale.

• Images(3)

Belt Plaques

DepartmentAsian Art

CultureChinese

Date16th-17th century

MediumJade

Dimensionselongated tab end: 3 9/16 × 1 3/8 in. (9 × 3.5 cm)
large rectangular: 3 1/16 × 1 7/16 in. (7.8 × 3.6 cm)
medium rectangular: 2 1/4-2 7/16 × 1 7/16 (5.7-6.2 × 3.6 cm)
small rectangular: 1 7/16 × 9/16-11/16 in. (3.6 × 1.4-1.8 cm)
teardrop: 1 7/16 × 1 1/4 in. (3.6 × 3.2 cm)

Credit LineSan Antonio Museum of Art, purchased with funds provided by the Bessie Timon Endowment Fund

Object number2021.1.3.a-r

Geography

Place madeChina, Asia

DescriptionAll but the four smallest rectangular-shaped plaques are carved with jocular male figures and frolicsome lions against openwork lattice grounds. On the larger plaques either a single lion placed stage center is flanked by two humans or a human is in the center with a lion on each side. A single lion and its human counterpart each occupy the smaller rectangular plaques, as well as the plaque with one curved end. Of the six teardrop-shaped plaques, four are decorated with a single lion each and two by male figures. These male figures wear pantaloons or garments with flaring skirts, tall boots, and wide-brimmed hats, some rather tall with streamers attached. Lively and engaging, they gesticulate wildly and strike exaggerated postures like circus performers. The lions, with giant heads, elaborate manes, and flowing foliate tails, full of animation and playfulness, pull at the sashes or ropes, turn and twist, bound this way and that, becoming contortionists themselves, one even balancing straight upright on its front paws.Label TextBelt PlaquesBelt Plaques China Ming dynasty (1368-1644) Jade Purchased with funds provided by Bessie Timon Endowment Fund 2021.1.3.a-r This group of finely carved plaques was once sewn on a belt for a nobleman or a high ranking official. The main motif is male figures playfully engaging with lions—a popular and auspicious subject since the seventh century. The figures wear pantaloons, tall boots, and wide brimmed hats; the lions, with giant heads, elaborate manes, and flowing foliate tails, are full of animation. Similar plaques have been excavated from tombs dated to the Ming dynasty. Jade has been treasured since the dawn of Chinese civilization. Confucius compared the qualities of jade to the virtues of a gentleman: wisdom, loyalty, justice and purity. Jade is a very hard stone; the delicate details on the plaques testify to the excellence of the carving.Provenanceacquired in Hong Kong by Kaikodo from B. K. Wong in May 1997Published ReferencesKaikodo Journal II (Autumn 1996), no. 65.

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The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.