Covered Ovoid Jar (So-Called Ginger Jar) with Decoration of Plum Blossoms against a “Shattered Ice” Ground
Possibly late 17th–early 18th century, Kangxi era (1661–1722)
Description
Porcelain ovoid jar with cylindrical cover, both decorated with a mottled blue background covered with a geometric “shattered ice” pattern in darker shades of blue. Groups of plum blossoms are composed of negative white spaces with blue outlines indicating petals and stamens. At the shoulder is a border composed of alternating swatches of parallel lines. A single blue line runs around the foot, beneath the main decorative register, and a pair of concentric blue lines are found inside the white-glazed foot. The lid, which does not perfectly match the body, has a sawtooth patter around the exterior and a cluster of plum blossoms against a shattered ice background on the top.
Dimensions
H. 13.3 × W. 11.4 cm (5 1/4 × 4 1/2 in.)
Provenance
Arthur and Mariot F. Solomon, Cambridge, MA (by 2020), bequest; to the Harvard Art Museums
Related Artworks
View MoreEarthenware with impressed decoration
5th millennium BCEChineseIncised celadon ware: light gray stoneware with celadon glaze over lightly incised and combed decoration
11th-12th centuryKoreanTerracotta
6th century BCEGreekSilver
17th-19th centuryFrenchGlass
20th centurySwedishMolded light gray stoneware with traces of natural ash glaze
17th-20th centuryKorean
Nickel silver and ebony
20th centuryGermanPlaster
Qingbai ware: porcelain with pale sky-blue glaze over incised bowstring line decoration on exterior
12th centuryChineseTerracotta; pale yellow clay and slip with light brown paint and applied purple
7th century BCEGreek