Fine China

The artwork in question is a Chinese takeout container made out of fine china, with blue on white decoration. This piece is a prime example of the tradition of using cultural motifs and everyday objects to explore questions of identity, power, and aesthetics.

One possible point of reference is the work of Claes Oldenburg, who famously created sculptures of everyday objects such as hamburgers and typewriters in the 1960s. Like Oldenburg's work, the Chinese takeout container in this artwork elevates an ordinary object to the status of art, inviting us to question the distinctions we make between the "high" and "low" forms of culture.

Another possible influence is the long history of cultural exchange between China and the West, particularly in the realm of decorative arts. Blue and white porcelain, in particular, has been prized in Europe since the 16th century, when it was imported from China via the Silk Road. By using this traditional Chinese material to create a quintessentially American object, the artist draws attention to the complex and often fraught history of cultural appropriation and exchange.

Overall, this artwork challenges us to rethink our assumptions about cultural identity and the boundaries between art and everyday life. By transforming a disposable takeout container into a work of art, the artist invites us to consider the ways in which the objects we use and consume can shape our sense of self and our relationship to the wider world.

Gwendolyn Montague, Auction House Specialist