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.
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.
Related Artworks
View MoreRusset Yaozhou ware: light gray stoneware with russet-surfaced dark brown glaze. From the Huangpu kiln complex, Tongchuan, Yaozhou county, Shaanxi province.
11th-12th centuryChineseGray earthenware
2nd millennium BCEChineseTerracotta
2nd millennium BCEHurrianJian ware: dark gray stoneware with dark brown glaze, the markings in iron oxide, the lip banded with silver. From the kilns at Shuiji, Jianyang county, Fujian province.
13th centuryChineseSilver
19th centuryAmericanTerracotta with polychrome decoration
5th century BCEGreekTerracotta
3rd-2nd century BCEGreekNumbered Jun ware: light gray stoneware with variegated purple and blue glaze; with Chinese numeral 9 (jiu) inscribed on base before firing
15th centuryChineseTerracotta; buff slip, brown glaze
16th-15th century BCEHelladicCopper alloy
1st century CERomanSilver
18th centuryBritishTerracotta
Greek