Gourd-Shaped Bottle
Gourd-shaped vessels were popular in the Ming imperial court in the sixteenth century, especially in the Jiajing period, when the emperor was known for his fervent interest in Daoism. Gourds and bottles in their shape were thought to hold the elixir of immortality for Daoist deities. The shapes, colors, and textures of gourds seemingly appealed to Moore and his design staff, who made a number of vessels that take their shape or feature them as decoration.
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