Pillow
1175-1250 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This pillow is an example of Cizhou ware, a type of ceramic made in the northern part of China during the Jin dynasty (1115-1234). The term Cizhou encapsulates a range of wares made in several regions of northern China, often consisting of a stoneware body decorated with a bold design.
Ceramic pillows were an important item in the kilns producing Cizhou wares, and were made for both funerary use and as a neck support for the living. The stoneware body of this piece has taken on the shape of a lion through clever use of moulding and incising techniques, and brightly coloured glazes. Lions were sacred animals to Buddhists, so this pillow would have had a special meaning for its owner.
Ceramic pillows were an important item in the kilns producing Cizhou wares, and were made for both funerary use and as a neck support for the living. The stoneware body of this piece has taken on the shape of a lion through clever use of moulding and incising techniques, and brightly coloured glazes. Lions were sacred animals to Buddhists, so this pillow would have had a special meaning for its owner.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Stoneware, incised, moulded and glazed |
| Brief description | Pillow with crouching lion base, incised and moulded stoneware with coloured glazes, Cizhou ware, China, Jin dynasty, 1175-1250 |
| Physical description | Cizhou ware ceramic pillow with crouching lion base, incised and moulded decorations and coloured glazes. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Gallery label | Pillow with lion base
Jin dynasty
1175-1250
Cizhou kilns, north China
Some Chinese pillows are in the form of lions or tigers, probably for their protective power.
Stoneware with multi-coloured glaze
Museum no.C.568-1919(2007) |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This pillow is an example of Cizhou ware, a type of ceramic made in the northern part of China during the Jin dynasty (1115-1234). The term Cizhou encapsulates a range of wares made in several regions of northern China, often consisting of a stoneware body decorated with a bold design. Ceramic pillows were an important item in the kilns producing Cizhou wares, and were made for both funerary use and as a neck support for the living. The stoneware body of this piece has taken on the shape of a lion through clever use of moulding and incising techniques, and brightly coloured glazes. Lions were sacred animals to Buddhists, so this pillow would have had a special meaning for its owner. |
| Bibliographic reference | Kerr, Rose. Song Dynasty Ceramics. London:V&A Publications, 2004. p. 74, no. 73. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.568-1919 |
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| Record created | June 20, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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