Object of the Month: January 2023

Chosen by: Shani Collis, Collections Access Officer

Collection: Decorative Arts

Object Name: Soup Tureen

Porcelain, 18th Century

This month’s object is a soup tureen made in China in the 18th century. It has a pomegranate on the lid, and rabbits serve as the bowl handles. The pomegranate is an auspicious symbol of abundance (because of its many seeds) and the rabbit is the luckiest among the 12 zodiac animals.

In the Chinese zodiac, the rabbit, which is the fourth animal in the zodiac, is associated with the moon. In Chinese mythology a jade rabbit dwells on the moon as a companion to the Moon Goddess. 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit. Happy New Year.

The Object of the Month can be seen in person throughout January at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery.