The five bats on this bowl communicate five blessings. "Bats" and "blessings" are pronounced the same in Chinese, making bats a popular symbol across a variety of art forms. The central pattern on this bowl is the Chinese character for longevity. Thus, the gift of this bowl honored the recipient with a wish: May you have five blessings and long life.
Gift of the People's Republic of China
Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)
Glazed porcelain with enamel decoration and gilt
1.6 x 7.0in
74-45
Image and text: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 2023
Where you'll find this
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Permanent collection