Cizhou ware jar with cover

Tz’u-chou ware — Northern Black ware.
Jar with cover.
Clay: hard, dense, grayish-white.
Glaze: black.
Decoration: painted in metallic brown over glaze.

Historical period(s)
Jin dynasty, 12th-mid 13th century
Medium
Stoneware with black glaze and iron oxide decoration
Style
Cizhou-type ware
Dimensions
H x W: 8.5 x 12.1 cm (3 3/8 x 4 3/4 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1929.12a-b
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Jar

Keywords
China, Cizhou ware, Jin dynasty (1115 - 1234), Northern Black ware, Northern Song dynasty (960 - 1127), stoneware
Provenance

1929
Yamanaka and Company, Washington DC 1929 [1]

From 1929
Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Yamanaka and Company, Washington DC in 1929 [2]

Notes:

[1] See Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List file, Collections Management Office.

[2] See note 1.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Yamanaka and Co. 1917-1965

Description

Tz'u-chou ware -- Northern Black ware.
Jar with cover.
Clay: hard, dense, grayish-white.
Glaze: black.
Decoration: painted in metallic brown over glaze.

Label

This jar made at a northern Chinese kiln bears a geometric floral pattern that suggests a relationship to textile designs. The pattern was painted with iron pigment over the coating of iron-rich glaze; the glaze fired to a nearly black color, while the pattern appears as a subtle russet hue.

Published References
  • Oriental Ceramics: The World's Great Collections. 12 vols., Tokyo. vol. 10, pl. 22.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
SI Usage Statement

Usage Conditions Apply

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery welcome information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

citation | Save this image How to download an image | Request Permission | Terms of Use