Shallow Circular Bowl with Floral Decor
12th century
Description
The walls of this shallow, circular bowl extend laterally from the circular footring (to form the vessel floor), then rise vertically to the mouth rim. The piece is fully glazed inside and out, save the bottom of the footring, which is unglazed (indicating that the bowl was fired right side up). The body clay is white and slightly transluscent; the grayish honey-yellow-hued glaze imparts a warm feel to the piece. The bowl was produced over a press mold set at the center of the potter's wheel: the mold determined the bowls shape and size and imparted the molded decoration on the interior; the potter's hands shaped the exterior and set the thickness of the walls. The potter cut the footring with a wood or bamboo scalpel after turning the bowl on the wheel. The bowl's interior boasts three registers of deocration over the cavetto, or side walls, and floor: at the very top is a narrow border of leaves; around the side walls is an undulating floral garland inhabited by baby boys, each of whom appears to support the garland's undulating stem; on the floor is an acquatic scene with various leaves and flowers, several fish, and a large bouquet of lotus blossoms, their stems bound together with a ribbon.
Dimensions
H. 6.6 x Diam. 25.2 cm (2 5/8 x 9 15/16 in.)
Provenance
Eskenazi Ltd., London (Purchased by Gilbert and Stephanie Zuellig as a gift to the Harvard University Art Museums; the bowl was never a part of the Zuellig Collection.)
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12th centuryChinese