Vessel in Form of a Bird

Tang dynasty (618–907), first half of 8th century

China

This bird-shaped clay vessel features naturalistic wing and tail feathers but decorative scrollwork along the neck and body. It is painted with lead-based three-color (sancai) glazes that were commonly used during the Tang dynasty. The bird may be either a mandarin duck or a wild goose; both traditionally symbolized peace, prosperity, and marital love.

Status: On View, Gallery 131
Department: Arts of Asia

Title: Vessel in Form of a Bird
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–750 CE
Medium: Earthenware with three-color (sancai) lead glazes
Dimensions: H.: 34.7 cm (13 11/16 in.)
Credit Line: Bequest of Janis H. Palmer
Reference Number: 1986.945
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. Learn more.: https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/105595/manifest.json

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Title

Place

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.

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Dimensions

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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. Learn more.

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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.

Learn more.