Covered box

Covered box with flat lid, tapering body, and flat base.
Clay: porcelain; buff with orange oxidation at edges of glaze.
Glaze: translucent white with blue-gray tint, matte, coarsely crackled; interior of body and center of interior of lid glazed.
Decoration: in underglaze cobalt. On lid, thick and thin double line surrounding central medallion containing eight-pointed foliate motif. Five foliate clusters spaced around edge of lid, above single line near rim. On body, double line below rim and single line above base, framing three floral sprays interspersed with single flowers or insects.
Mark: none.

Historical period(s)
Ming dynasty, late 15th-16th century
Medium
Porcelain with underglaze cobalt pigment
Style
Jingdezhen ware
Dimensions
H x Diam (overall): 3.9 x 5.3 cm (1 9/16 x 2 1/16 in)
Geography
China, Jiangxi province, Jingdezhen, Jingdezhen kilns
Credit Line
Gift of Dean Frasché
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1989.7a-b
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Container
Type

Box

Keywords
China, clear glaze, cobalt pigment, flower, Jingdezhen ware, Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644), porcelain
Provenance

From 1959 to 1989
Dean Frasché, Greenwich, CT, acquired in Jakarta in 1959 [1]

From 1989
Freer Gallery of Art, given by Dean Frasché in 1989

Notes:

[1] According to Curatorial Note 2 in the object record.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Dean Frasché 1906-1994

Description

Covered box with flat lid, tapering body, and flat base.
Clay: porcelain; buff with orange oxidation at edges of glaze.
Glaze: translucent white with blue-gray tint, matte, coarsely crackled; interior of body and center of interior of lid glazed.
Decoration: in underglaze cobalt. On lid, thick and thin double line surrounding central medallion containing eight-pointed foliate motif. Five foliate clusters spaced around edge of lid, above single line near rim. On body, double line below rim and single line above base, framing three floral sprays interspersed with single flowers or insects.
Mark: none.

Published References
  • Louise Allison Cort, George Williams, David P. Rehfuss. Ceramics in Mainland Southeast Asia. Washington. .
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Ceramics in Mainland Southeast Asia
Google Cultural Institute
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