Accession Number
1969/2.152

Title
Bottle

Artist(s)
Chinese

Artist Nationality
Chinese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1271-1368

Medium & Support
stoneware with glaze

Dimensions
11 in (27.94 cm)

Credit Line
Museum purchase for the Paul Leroy Grigaut Memorial Collection

Subject matter
A stoneware cizhou (磁州) wine bottle with sancai  (三彩) glaze of the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368). Continuing the sancai color scheme of the Tang dynasty (618-907), these types of wares were produced at Northern cizhou kilns. 

Cizhou ware has been 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 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 can be used. These techniques include painting, sgraffito, incision, overglaze, 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
A tall stoneware ovoid bottle on a straight footring with a narrow, short, flaring neck and a direct rim. It has four loop handles connecting the neck to shoulder, incised with floral decoration, and the upper half of the body is covered in green, amber, and yellow polychrome glazes. 

Primary Object Classification
Ceramic

Primary Object Type
bottle

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
Cizhou
Sancai (Chinese ceramics style)
bottles
ceramic (material)
flower (motif)
jar
stoneware (pottery)
three-color ware (Chinese ware)