Jar
1000-1125 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This jar with conical lid may have been made for a grave. It is possible that alcohol was stored in it. Chinese burial customs include providing food and drink for the spirits of the dead, and ceramics with lead glazes, like this jar, have frequently been found in ancient tombs. There is no evidence to suggest, however, that the ancient Chinese knew about the poisonous properties of lead, and it seems possible that lead-glazed objects were not reserved only for life after death.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Red stoneware, with incised designs and coloured glazes |
| Brief description | Lidded jar, stoneware with incised decoration and coloured lead glazes, China, Liao dynasty (907-1125) |
| Physical description | Red stoneware vase with wide ovoid body, short neck spreading at the lip, flat base and bell cover. The vase is coated with white slip: sgraffito ornament tinted with colours under a lead glaze of faint greenish tint. The main ornament is a broad band of flowers and foliage - lotus, peony and chrysanthemum - green and white with a yellow ground. The neck and lid are green. The green areas throughout are partly covered with iridescence. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label | Large lidded jar for alcohol
Liao dynasty
1000-1125
Stoneware with coloured glazes
Museum no. C.10-1935
From the Eumorfopoulos collection, purchased with the assistance of The Art Fund, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee [Art Fund logo](2007) |
| Credit line | Purchased with Art Fund support, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This jar with conical lid may have been made for a grave. It is possible that alcohol was stored in it. Chinese burial customs include providing food and drink for the spirits of the dead, and ceramics with lead glazes, like this jar, have frequently been found in ancient tombs. There is no evidence to suggest, however, that the ancient Chinese knew about the poisonous properties of lead, and it seems possible that lead-glazed objects were not reserved only for life after death. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.10&A-1935 |
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| Record created | January 30, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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