VesselsChinese1st-3rd century CE

Cylindrical tripod vessel (lian) with conical lid

25-220 CE

Description

Cylindrical tripod vessel with legs in the form of crouching bears and conical, mountain-form lid with knob in the form of a seated human figure with head tilted and arm resting on one knee; vessel sides incised with two horizontal lines and embellished with a pair of molded simulated pushou-mask ring-handles, the peaked cover molded with a scene of tigers striding through a dense forest of stylized trees; red earthenware with lead-fluxed, caramel-brown glaze all over the vessel, including the base, the underside of the cover unglazed; with three small rectangular kiln supports on the vessel base.

Classification

Vessels

Technique

Lead glaze

Medium

Earthenware with brown lead glaze

Culture

Chinese

Period

Han dynasty, Eastern Han period, 25-220 CE

Century

1st-3rd century CE

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Asian Art

Dimensions

H. 27.7 x Diam. 21.1 cm (10 7/8 x 8 5/16 in.)

Provenance

[J. J. Lally & Co., New York, December 1999] sold; to Walter C. Sedgwick Foundation, Woodside, CA (1999-2006), partial gift; to Harvard University Art Museums, 2006.