480-470 BCE
This small oil flask depicts a lone black archer standing against a white-ground background with his arms outstretched holding an axe in his right hand and a bow in his left. He wears patterned trousers, reminiscent of foreign dress depicted in other vases, and a cuirass with shoulder flaps, tied by a black belt. His quiver is strapped to his waist. His head is turned to the left, curly hair rendered by simple black dots. To his right is a small table. On the side opposite him is a tall palm tree with a rippling trunk.
15.4 x 5.5 cm (6 1/16 x 2 3/16 in.)
Earthenware with green lead glaze
11th-12th centuryChineseSalt-glazed stoneware
20th centuryBritish, WelshTerracotta; pale yellow clay with slip, applied purple for details
6th century BCEGreekStoneware with celadon glaze
6th-7th centuryChineseCeramic bizen ware vase
20th centuryJapaneseDing ware: porcelaneous white stoneware with ivory-hued glaze over incised decoration
11th-12th centuryChineseLight blue glass
5th-7th century'Qingbai' ware: porcelain with pale blue glaze over appliqué ornaments.
13th-14th centuryChineseQingbai-type ware: molded porcelain with virtually colorless glaze
12th-13th centuryChineseEnameled blue-and-white ware: porcelain with applique handles and decoration reserved in white against an underglaze cobalt blue ground, the reserved designs embellished with overglaze polychrome enamels; with an underglaze cobalt-blue double circle on the base
17th centuryChineseSilver
18th centuryBritishEnameled blue-and-white ware: porcelain with decoration painted in underglaze cobalt blue on upper and lower sections, the central register with red, yellow, and aubergine enamels over incised decoration on biscuit porcelain
16th-17th centuryChinese