Bowl

Bowl with eveerted rim.
Clay: light gray stoneware.
Glaze: creamy white glaze.
Decoration: painted in two shades of cobalt (or possibly iron and cobalt) pigment under the glaze: floral spray in center (on which are five spur scars), narrow calligraphic band near interior rim, wider band on exterior, both framed by lines. Base shows traces of “chocolate brown” (iron slip).

Historical period(s)
Tran or Later Le dynasty, 14th-15th century
Medium
Stoneware with white slip and iron and cobalt pigments under clear glaze; iron pigment on base
Dimensions
H x W x D: 7.5 x 16.9 x 16.9 cm (2 15/16 x 6 5/8 x 6 5/8 in)
Geography
Vietnam, Hai Duong province, Red River delta kilns
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1994.9
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Bowl

Keywords
cobalt pigment, flower, iron pigment, iron wash, Later Le dynasty (1428 - 1527), stoneware, Tran dynasty (1225 - 1400), Vietnam, white slip
Provenance

Early 1980s
Possibly David Rehfuss, Fairfax, Virginia, purchased in Jakarta, Indonesia in the early 1980s. [1]

To 1994
John Forbes, Silver Spring, Maryland, acquired in Manilla, Philippines. [2]

From 1994
Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from John Forbes, Silver Spring, Maryland. [3]

Notes:

[1] Louise Cort states in a note from April 13, 2004 that “According to David Rehfuss, this bowl may have belonged to him and been traded to John Forbes. David Rehfuss bought the bowl in Jakarta in the early 1980s while he was posted there in the Foreign Service.” See Curatorial Remark 2 in the object record.

[2] See Curatorial Remark 2 in the object record.

[3] See note 2.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

John Forbes
David P. Rehfuss

Description

Bowl with eveerted rim.
Clay: light gray stoneware.
Glaze: creamy white glaze.
Decoration: painted in two shades of cobalt (or possibly iron and cobalt) pigment under the glaze: floral spray in center (on which are five spur scars), narrow calligraphic band near interior rim, wider band on exterior, both framed by lines. Base shows traces of "chocolate brown" (iron slip).

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