“Ginger jar” with cover, one of a pair with F1995.3.2 a-b

Cobalt decoration under colorless glaze. Crenellated border design at neck. Cracked ice diaper background with decoration of prunus branches with blossoms, ending in a double blue line at base above foot. Mouth and foot rims unglazed.

Historical period(s)
Qing dynasty, mid 17th-early 18th century
Medium
Porcelain with cobalt pigment under clear glaze
Style
Jingdezhen ware
Dimensions
H x Diam (assembled): 25.1 × 20.1 cm (9 7/8 × 7 15/16 in)
Geography
China, Jiangxi province, Jingdezhen
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1995.3.1a-b
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Vessel
Type

Jar

Keywords
China, cobalt pigment, Jingdezhen ware, plum blossom, porcelain, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911)
Provenance

Leonard Gow, Glasgow, Scotland [1]

To 1955
Mr. Alfred H. (1877-1955) and Mrs. Margaret M. (died 1953) Caspary, New York to 1955 [2]

From 1955 to 1995
Philadelphia Museum of Art, given as part of The Alfred and Margaret Caspary Memorial Gift in 1955 [3]

From 1995
Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1995. [4]

Notes:

[1] See object file, Colections Management Office.

[2] See note 1.

[3] See note 1.

[4] See note 1.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Margaret M. Caspary died 1953
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Leonard Gow 1859-1936
Alfred H. Caspary 1877-1955

Description

Cobalt decoration under colorless glaze. Crenellated border design at neck. Cracked ice diaper background with decoration of prunus branches with blossoms, ending in a double blue line at base above foot. Mouth and foot rims unglazed.

Inscription(s)

Old labels on bottom: oval paper labels, "The Leonard Gow Collection" and "34" (two of these); plain oval jagged edge paper sticker with "#401" written on it; "Glasgow Art Galleries and Museum. Reg. no. E6-'36ax." Old PMA number painted on bottom: "55-50-197a."

Published References
  • Robert L. Hobson. Catalogue of the Leonard Gow Collection. pl. 14.
  • Robert L. Hobson. The Later Ceramic Wares of China: Being the blue and white, famille verte, famille rose, monochromes, etc., of the K'ang Hsi, Yung Chêng, Ch'ien Lung and other periods of the Ch'ing dynasty. London. pl. 2.
  • Royal Academy of Arts. Catalogue of the International Exhibition of Chinese Art, 1935-36. Exh. cat. London. cat. 1797.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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