Covered, squared jar (fang) with recumbent feline base

VesselsChinese2nd century BCE

Covered, squared jar (fang) with recumbent feline base

late 2nd century BCE

Description

Vessel in the form of a cat bearing the upper portion of a squared wine jar (fang) on its back; the cat’s head raised with eyes open and mouth closed, legs bent and gathered beneath its body, tail curled upward and back towards the jar; two sides of the jar have a molded pushou-masks intended to support ring-handles; one iron ring survives; a pyramid-shaped lid covers the jar; molded gray earthenware with applique elements and traces of red and white pigments on the exterior and red pigment on the interior.

Classification

Vessels

Medium

Gray earthenware with cold-painted pigments

Culture

Chinese

Period

Han dynasty, Western Han period, 206 BCE-9 CE

Century

2nd century BCE

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Asian Art

Dimensions

H. 41.9 x W. 43.5 x D. 23.6 cm (16 1/2 x 17 1/8 x 9 5/16 in.)

Provenance

[Galerie Gisèle Croës - Arts d'Extreme-Orient, Brussels, Belgium, May 2000] sold; to Walter C. Sedgwick Foundation, Woodside, CA (2000-2006), partial gift; to Harvard University Art Museums, 2006.

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Covered, squared jar (fang) with recumbent feline base | Harvard Art Museums | KenAI