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.)
Enameled blue-and-white ware: porcelain with decoration painted in underglaze cobalt blue and overglaze polychrome enamels; with spurious underglaze mark reading "Da Ming Chenghua nian zhi" within a double circle on the base
17th-19th centuryChineseStoneware with celadon glaze over inlaid decoration
13th-14th centuryKoreanCeramic
20th centuryPersianTranslucent grayish green jadeite with emerald green markings; stone of Burmise origin
18th-19th centuryChineseGrayish buff earthenware
4th-3rd millennium BCEChineseGray earthenware with traces of cold-painted pigment
1st century BCE-1st century CEChineseEarthenware
6th millennium BCEChineseSilver
19th centuryBritishExport blue-and-white ware: porcelain with decoration painted in underglaze cobalt blue
19th centuryChineseNickeled brass
20th centuryAustrianHard-paste porcelain decorated with polychrome enamels and gold
18th centuryGerman