VesselsChinese10th-11th century

Circular Covered Box with Peony Décor

10th - early 11th century

Description

The slightly domed cover of this circular box features a molded, carved, and incised design of a lush peony blossom supported by a slender, gently curving leafy stem. The composition is contained within a double-line circle, which is itself surrounded by a border sporting ten lightly incised decorative scroll motifs. The bottom section of the box is unembellished; the underside of the box reveals a countersunk foot. A grayish green glaze covers the entirety of the box, inside and out, with the exception of the circular rims where the two halves of the box meet and patches within the countersunk foot, where spurs were presumably placed in order to raise the vessel slightly during firing and prevent it from fusing to kiln furniture.

Classification

Vessels

Medium

Yue ware: light gray stoneware with celadon glaze over molded, carved, and incised decoration

Culture

Chinese

Period

Five Dynasties period (907-960) to Northern Song period (960-1127)

Century

10th-11th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Asian Art

Dimensions

including lid: H. 5 x Diam. 12.1 cm (1 15/16 x 4 3/4 in.)

Provenance

[Warren E. Cox, New York (1950s)]. [The Chinese Porecelain Company, New York, (by 1996)], sold; to Ralph C Marcove, New York (1996-2001) inherited; by Christina J. Marcove, New York (2001-2015), gift; to the Harvard Art Museums.