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Ovoid Jar

A work made of lushan ware; stoneware with iron-brown and splashed milky-blue ash glazes.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of lushan ware; stoneware with iron-brown and splashed milky-blue ash glazes.

Date:

Tang dynasty (618–907), 8th/9th century

Artist:

China, probably Henan province

About this artwork

This elegant jar exemplifies the stoneware craftsmanship of the Lushan kiln, a center of stoneware production during the Tang Dynasty. Beneath the rolled lip, four handles that evoke the shape of stylized birds curve downward, directing the viewer’s gaze to the smooth, satiny surface. Covered with a captivating mottled brown “tea-dust” glaze and embellished with bold, lively splashes of milky lavender, the jar displays a timeless beauty. The brown glaze stops neatly with a clean sweep just above slightly flared foot, exposing the dense clay body tinged with a subtle orange hue from the firing process. Jars like this are recognized as innovative precursors to the renowned Song-dynasty Jun ware.

Status

On View, Gallery 134

Department

Arts of Asia

Title

Ovoid Jar

Place

China (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

701 CE–899 CE

Medium

Lushan ware; stoneware with iron-brown and splashed milky-blue ash glazes

Dimensions

H. 46.3 cm (18 1/8 in.) diam. 35.1 cm (13 13/16 in.)

Credit Line

Robert A. Waller Fund

Reference Number

1985.113

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

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https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/103961/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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