The Era of Oriental Influence |
During the Era of Oriental Influence, we see an abrupt shift in Zymoglyphic art. Instead of the highly complex arrangements of the dioramas, there is a return to simple arrangements of dried fruit, rocks, and sticks. This trend reaches its extreme in the art of "viewing stones", which consists simply of selecting and positioning a small natural object which is worthy of contemplation, then putting it on a stand.
Curator's note: The outdated term "oriental" in the name of this era has been retained for historical reasons. It refers to an attitude during the Age of Wonder which was partly a genuine appreciation of nature-based Asian art forms, but also a more problematic fascination with the exoticness of Asian cultures and a sometimes cavalier appropriation of artifacts. Curiosity cabinets in the Age of Wonder, for example, often included objects from cultures seen as exotic.
The main collection |
Miniature Viewing Stones |
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Curio collection |
Miniature Trees |
A simple arrangement based on a dried orange |
A fossil egg that is actually a moon snail hatching out of a clam shell. It is an ancient mythic act, frozen in time |
A traditional dried fruit and vegetable arrangement, this one based based on an orange and a carrot |
A traditional viewing stone. It is known as the "bone of the earth." |
A traditional viewing stone. The clear parts are windows into the soul of the stone. |
A marine arrangment, made from items produced by the sea. |
A cut piece of bubble plant, native to the Zymoglyphic region, in a simple arrangement. |
The happy monk has the world on a string. It is actually an inflatable universe - he carries a supply of them in his bag. |
A tray landscape, illustrating the legend of the "crazy houses.". Tray landscapes are a transitional art form midway between the simple objects and the more elaborate dioramas. |
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This is a Zymoglyphic collection of curios as might have been seen during the Era of Oriental Influence |
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Top row: Landscape rock, shelter rock | |
Middle row: Hindu figure, agate, Hindu figure (Ganesh), miniature tree | |
Bottom row: Malachite, miniature tree | |
Bottom: Left and right handed fiddler crabs |