Accession Number
1961/2.1

Title
Jar Cover

Artist(s)
Chinese

Artist Nationality
Chinese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
9th - 10th century

Medium & Support
stoneware with glaze

Dimensions
1 1/2 in x 4 in x 4 in (3.81 cm x 10.16 cm x 10.16 cm)

Credit Line
Given in memory of James Marshall Plumer by John Maxon, Architecture and Design '41

Subject matter
A hemispherical lid for a cizhou ware jar of the Song dynasty (960-1279), which resembles a bowl and may have been used as such. 

Cizhou (磁州) ware was well known since the Song dynasty, with production lasting through the Qing, but it reached its zenith during the Jin and Yuan dynasties, where the forms were especially robust and the decoration finely executed. The ware is characterized by its high contrast dark brown to black and white wares, although over a dozen types of decoration were used. These techniques include painting, sgraffito, incision, overglaze, and underglaze, along with the application of multi-colored glazes. The variety of sub-styles is a result from being produced at a variety of Northern kilns in Hebei, Henan, Shandong, and Shanxi. These everyday, if not somewhat plebian, wares consisted primarily of large jars, vases, pillows, and bowls.

Physical Description
This stoneware hemispherical form with a direct rim has an interior covered with a creamy white glaze, and an exterior covered with a dark brown glaze.

Primary Object Classification
Ceramic

Primary Object Type
jar

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
Cizhou
bowls (vessels)
ceramic (material)
covers
jars
stoneware (pottery)
vessels