For artists of historical China, the natural world served as a profound and enduring source of inspiration. Among its many subjects, birds and flowers held a particularly cherished place. These motifs were admired not only for their delicate beauty and refined artistic rendering, but also for their deeper symbolic meanings. In many cases, bird-and-flower compositions carried auspicious messages or formed rebuses — visual and phonetic puns — designed to bestow blessings, express affection, or convey good wishes to the viewer or intended recipient. Such works offered layers of meaning that blended aesthetic pleasure with cultural significance.

This display brings together around twenty works, including paintings, porcelain, and embroidery drawn from the museum’s collection and from an important private lender. Several of these pieces are being shown publicly for the first time, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience objects that are not usually on view. Together, they reveal the remarkable variety of techniques, materials, and artistic traditions that shaped bird-and-flower imagery across different periods and regions of China. Through this intimate selection, viewers are invited to consider how artists captured the vitality of the natural world and the symbolic richness it held within Chinese culture.

The display is dedicated to the memory of the late Clara T. Rankin, longtime museum trustee and devoted admirer of birds and flowers. Her passion for the arts and her deep appreciation for the natural world echo the themes embodied in these works. This presentation pays tribute to her legacy, honoring her commitment to the museum and celebrating the beauty, harmony, and quiet poetry that these artworks represent.