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Phoenix-Headed Ewer

A work made of earthenware with molded decoration and three-color (sancai) lead glazes.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of earthenware with molded decoration and three-color (sancai) lead glazes.

Date:

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

Artist:

China

About this artwork

The pearl-shaped body, cartouche-like medallions, and leafy details on the handle of this vessel were all inspired by silverware from the ancient Persian (Iranian) city-state of Sogdiana. Sogdiana was an important stop along the Silk Road, a network of trade routes that connected China to Europe and Africa through Central Asia. Crowned by the head of a phoenix, this ewer’s flattened form was molded in two halves and then joined along vertical seams. When it was fired, lead glazes flowed freely over the relief decoration of a perched or dancing phoenix framed by floral scrolls. The opposite side depicts an archer mounted on a horse.

Status

On View, Gallery 105

Department

Arts of Asia

Title

Phoenix-Headed Ewer

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 molded decoration and three-color (sancai) lead glazes

Dimensions

32.2 × 13 cm (12 3/4 × 5 1/8 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Pauline Palmer Wood

Reference Number

1970.1076

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/35384/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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