Pillow

Historical period(s)
Northern Song dynasty, 1063
Medium
Stoneware with white slip under transparent colorless glaze
Style
Cizhou-type ware
Dimensions
H x W x D (overall): 19.2 x 39.8 x 10 cm (7 9/16 x 15 11/16 x 3 15/16 in)
Geography
China, Probably southern Shaanxi province
Credit Line
Gift of Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1974.2
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic
Type

Pillow

Keywords
China, Cizhou ware, flower, Northern Song dynasty (960 - 1127), stoneware
Provenance

To 1970
Eugene Meyer (1875-1959) and Agnes E. Meyer (1887-1970), Washington, DC, and Mt. Kisco, NY [1]

From 1970 to 1974
Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation, New York

From 1974
Freer Gallery of Art, bequeathed by Agnes E. Meyer [2]

Notes:

[1] The object was part of the Estate of Agnes E. Meyer.

[2] The object was transferred to the Freer Gallery on January 9, 1973. In 1974 it was confirmed that the transfer of this object to the Freer Gallery from the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation had been approved by the foundation’s Board of Directors on December 14, 1972 and the object was accessioned into the collection.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer (1875-1959) and (1887-1970)

Label

This ceramic pillow is rare because it bears an incised date on the scalloped edge, which reads, "Twenty-six day, seventh lunar month, eighth year of Jiayou era [corresponding to the year 1063]." The pillow features a different pattern on each face.

Published References
  • Qin Dashu. The Origin and Development of White Slip Sgraffito Decoration and Related Issues. no. 11. pp. 77-79, fig. 30.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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