Burial Jar
960-1127 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
China produced many types of green-glazed wares, in shades ranging from olive to grass to grey-blue. Resembling jade, they were admired for their tranquil beauty. They were often used in Buddhist tea ceremonies and meditation rituals.
Although some were made in northern China, green-glazed wares remained a speciality of the south. This funerary jar was produced at the Longquan kilns in Zhejiang province, and probably excavated from burials in the same area. Its olive tone is characteristic of Longquan ware of the 11th-12th century.
Green-glazed wares were exported in large quantities to South-east Asia and the Middle East. Later European collectors gave these wares the fanciful name of ‘celadon’.
Although some were made in northern China, green-glazed wares remained a speciality of the south. This funerary jar was produced at the Longquan kilns in Zhejiang province, and probably excavated from burials in the same area. Its olive tone is characteristic of Longquan ware of the 11th-12th century.
Green-glazed wares were exported in large quantities to South-east Asia and the Middle East. Later European collectors gave these wares the fanciful name of ‘celadon’.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Stoneware with incised decoration and green glaze |
| Brief description | Burial jar, stoneware with olive green 'celadon' glaze, Longquan ware, Zhejiang province, China, Northern Song dynasty, 11th-12th century |
| Physical description | Grey porcellanous stoneware vase with ovoid shape, cylindrical neck and cup-shaped mouth. The neck is decorated with an incised vertical petal band, the upper section of the body with an incised floral motif design and the lower section with another band of vertical petal design, all with combed details. Shallow foot with a recessed base which is unglazed and burnt red. Covered with a transparent deep olive green glaze. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Mrs. B Z. Seligman Bequest. |
| Production | Northern Song dynasty |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | China produced many types of green-glazed wares, in shades ranging from olive to grass to grey-blue. Resembling jade, they were admired for their tranquil beauty. They were often used in Buddhist tea ceremonies and meditation rituals. Although some were made in northern China, green-glazed wares remained a speciality of the south. This funerary jar was produced at the Longquan kilns in Zhejiang province, and probably excavated from burials in the same area. Its olive tone is characteristic of Longquan ware of the 11th-12th century. Green-glazed wares were exported in large quantities to South-east Asia and the Middle East. Later European collectors gave these wares the fanciful name of ‘celadon’. |
| Bibliographic reference | Kerr, Rose. Song dynasty ceramics. London: V&A Publications, 2004, p. 90, plate 91. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | FE.178-1974 |
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| Record created | April 15, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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