My SIL bought these bowls. I don’t remember the exact circumstances. She said it was in China Town, but I don’t know if that’s just a nick name for a part of a city or which city it was - not that it matters.
Anyway, we were wondering what the characters on the bottom of the bowl meant. I don’t know enough about the language to even know for sure which language it is - much less what any of the characters are. And, I can’t exactly put it into babblefish. So, I ask the dope. Anyone know what this means? I guess I’m secretly hoping it says something like “Stupid Americans will buy anything”. But, I’m guessing it’s just name of the manufacturer.
Chinese characters. It looks to me like the bowl is claiming to have been manufactured during the reign of the Xuande Emperor (1425 - 1435), of the Ming Dynasty. :dubious:
So, by “claiming” you’re suggesting that they’re not really from the 1400s? Because that’d be pretty awesome if they were. I’ll tell her to get them on antiques roadshow and see if they can be authenticated.
At least that give me something to look into. Thanks!
Chinese co-worker said basically the same thing Koxinga said. He also said it seemed in-authentic for the time period, but he is NOT an expert in this area - it’s just his impression from how the characters were written.
Awesome! So, at least it makes for an interesting conversation piece. Even if they’re just forgeries, it still makes them more interesting than if they were just plain bowels!
I’ll see if I can get more on the story behind them.
You know, when I linked to the pic in the OP, I actually caught myself writing bowel instead of bowl. Don’t know why my hands insist in adding that ‘e’.
You gotta admint - forged bowels are more interesting than plain bowels. Though, I don’t know that I’d want either on my kitchen counter.
I’ve been re-watching Angel the last few weeks. And for some reason, I’m getting the image of Wesley reciting from the book of demons:
The shit demon: It’s bowels forged from the fires of hell itself…
Sorry - had to share.
Word for word, “Great Ming Xuan De Year Manufactured”
ETA: That’s starting from the top right hand character, reading each column top to bottom and reading the columns right to left. You know those topsy turvey Chinese!
