Dragons

 

All ceramics by Evelyn Sander 2024

Blog post © 2024 mae sander

Dragons and Other Creatures

In the past week, we visited three sisters: my sister (and brother-in-law) in Indiana, and Len’s two sisters in St.Louis. We also spent a morning at the St.Louis Art Museum with Len’s niece, and visited the Missouri Botanical Gardens. It was great to visit with everyone and catch up on the lives of their children, grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. 

Dragons, Lion-Dogs, and More

At the museum in St. Louis we enjoyed several exhibits. I especially enjoyed seeing a number of interesting objects with fanciful creatures depicted on them. These came from China, Japan, New Guinea, Africa, and the ancient Middle East.

Note: this image is from an auction site, not my photo. All other photos are mine.

Amphora with Dished Mouth and Two Dragon Handles,
China, Tang Dynasty, late 7th-early 8th century.

Wine Ewer with Design of Phoenix-Headed Spout and Chi-Dragons.

China, 4th century BC, bronze.

Detail from a wall hanging with a design of Dragon and Phoenix amidst Waves and Clouds.
Japan, late 19th century.

Footed Cup with Ibex. 

Iranian, Chalcolithic Period, late 4th millennium BC

Detail of a memorial sculpture called a Malagan with a hornbill figure.
Papua New Guinea. Late 19th-early 20th century.

Detail of African beaded crown, 20th century.

Wedgwood Teapot, England, Early 19th century.

Godzilla

In West Lafayette last Saturday night, we had sushi at a very amusing restaurant called Sakanaya Izakaya. As in most sushi restaurants, the rolls have amusing names — especially this one:

I loved the paper lanterns that decorated the restaurant.

Blog post © 2024 mae sander.

Shared with Eileen's Saturday Critters and Deb's Sunday Salon.

In My Living Room

 

Orchids and Dragons.

Dragons

A Babylonian Dragon: a favorite from the Detroit Institute of Arts, where we often enjoy the collections.

A Chinese Dragon embroidered on an Imperial robe, 1700s-1800s. (DIA)

"Dragon and Tiger," attributed to Maruyama Okyo, Japanese, 1733-1795. (DIA)

Detail of the dragon from the screen by Okyo.

Many wonderful dragon images are in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. For me, a dragon should have a really goofy looking face, like the one above by Japanese artist Kano Seisen'in Osanobu (1796–1846). I found it in a slide show of dragon images from the Boston museum. I haven't been there in years, but I remember the dragons.

What made me think about dragons? In fact it was this dragon roll at the Slurping Turtle Restaurant in Ann Arbor.