This object is a blue and white fengwei zun, or phoenix-tail vase, which are also referred to as yen-yen vases. The phoenix-tail is derived from the shape of bronze ritual implements originating during the Shang Dynasty, known as gu. Here, Johann has painted onto the object his personal coat of arms, an image that is equal parts playful fantasy and anti-colonial commentary. The crest is based on an actual one: that of the influential Dutch clan of Valckenier, the most prominent member of which was Adriaan Valckenier, Governor General of the Dutch East Indies from 1737 to 1741. He is remembered today primarily for his role in the 1740 Batavia massacre, in which Dutch East India Company soldiers killed thousands of ethnic Chinese residents of the city, present-day Jakarta. Johann has adapted the arms of the Valckenier family into his personal crest, emphasizing symbolic elements of faith and ethical behaviour, and Southeast Asia as a region. The eagle in the Valckenier arms has been replaced by a dove, a harbinger of peace, while the green crescent moon signifies Islam; stylized hibiscus blooms are a reference to Malaysia,of which it is the national flower, or bunga raya. The artist has also included his monogram, consisting of his initials, as well as the Malay saying, “kata itu kota”, the translation of which is, literally, “a word is a city” – an exhortation to keep one’s promises.

Year: c. 1700s Ceramic
Size: 41 x 20.5 cm diameter