Cabinet F: Shelf 3

Mortuary Art from China

Throughout its long history, Chinese culture has continuously shown a special reverence for the deceased; this is rooted in the belief that the dead are still present and are able to influence life on earth. For many centuries, a tomb was considered a lasting home for the body, to be equipped with the same kinds of material goods that provided pleasure and comfort in life. Because buried artifacts are more likely to survive the passage of time, our most vivid and tangible understanding of ancient Chinese life often comes from objects excavated from tombs.

Ceramics have played a central role in tomb furnishings in many historical periods as storage containers for grain and wine and as ming qi, or “spirit goods.” Manufactured exclusively for tombs, ming qi are the miniature clay models of houses, livestock pens, animals, and humans that so delight us today for their charming recreation of village and city life. Ming qi first came into widespread use in the Han dynasty, partly as substitutes for human and animal sacrifices, but also as a reflection of a new, more practical worldview.

Guardian figures demonstrate another interesting aspect of Chinese mortuary culture. It was believed that after death the soul was freed from the body and could roam around the universe without hindrance; since family members did not like the idea of powerful ancestors, particularly those with unsettled grievances, wandering around freely, guardians were posted at the doorways of tombs to keep spirits from getting either out or in.

This tall, red earthenware jar with bulbous body has a tall, flaring, curved neck with flaring, articulated, dish-shaped rim. Its tall, straight foot ring rests on small tripod feet. Appliqué bowstring bands wrap around the body and rim, and combed, wavy line decoration winds around the neck. Two animal mask decorations in low relief hold rings on opposing sides of the belly. The jar is covered in a green lead glaze with iridescence and calcification.
Chinese
Jar
earthenware with lead glaze
18 3/4 in x 12 3/8 in x 12 3/8 in (47.6 cm x 31.5 cm x 31.5 cm)
Gift of Domino's Pizza, Inc.
A flat bottomed, red earthenware bowl with rounded sides and everted rolled rim.  It is covered in green lead glaze, with iridescence and calcification. 
Chinese
Bowl
glaze on earthenware
2 7/16 in x 6 7/16 in x 6 7/16 in (6.19 cm x 16.35 cm x 16.35 cm);3 11/16 in (9.37 cm);x 8 7/8 in x 22.54 cm;x 8 7/8 in x 22.54 cm
The Oliver J. Todd Memorial Collection
This cylindrical, red earthenware vessel rests on three zoomorphic feet. It is molded in low relief with hills and running animals. Opposing monster masks hold rings as faux handles. The vessel has a high, pointed dome cover moulded with animals running though mountains and clouds. It is covered in a lead green glaze with iridescence and calcification.
Chinese
Covered Tripod Cylindrical Vessel
earthenware with lead glaze
11 5/16 in x 9 3/16 in (28.8 cm x 23.3 cm);11 5/8 in x 9 15/16 in x 9 9/16 in (29.5 cm x 25.2 cm x 24.3 cm);4 5/8 in x 9 1/4 in x 9 1/4 in (11.8 cm x 23.5 cm x 23.5 cm);7 1/2 in x 9 15/16 in x 9 9/16 in (19 cm x 25.2 cm x 24.3 cm)
Gift of Domino's Pizza, Inc.
A red, ceramic, shallow, flat-bottomed earthenware bowl.  It has a short dragon handle to one side, and is covered in a green lead glaze with iridescence and calcification. 
Chinese
Bowl
earthenware with glaze
2 15/16 in x 9 7/16 in x 7 3/16 in (7.46 cm x 23.97 cm x 18.26 cm)
Museum Purchase
A red, round bottom, ovoid earthenware ladle with a long curved dragon headed handle.  It is covered in a green lead glaze with iridescence and calcification. 
Chinese
Ladle
earthenware with glaze
5 1/8 in x 4 15/16 in x 2 15/16 in (13.02 cm x 12.54 cm x 7.46 cm)
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund
Red earthenware, flat bottomed bowl with rounded sides and thick rim, molded with wave pattern to exterior wall, covered in amber and green lead glaze, with iridescence and calcification.
Chinese
Dish
earthenware with lead glaze
5 7/16 in x 5 3/8 in x 5 3/8 in (13.8 cm x 13.7 cm x 13.7 cm)
Gift of F. Karel Wiest
A red earthenware ear cup (<em>erbei </em>二杯) with an ovoid body with two opposing wing-like handles applied to the rim.  It was covered in a green lead glaze with iridescence and calcification.
Chinese
Ear Cup
earthenware with glaze
1 3/8 in x 4 5/8 in x 3 11/16 in (3.49 cm x 11.75 cm x 9.37 cm)
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund
This red, earthenware, kidney-shaped pigpen contains one pig below a cylindrical tower shed with a door. It has peaked roof displaying ridges, and it is covered in a green lead glaze with iridescence and calcification. 
Chinese
Model of a pigpen
earthenware with glaze
10 7/16 in x 9 13/16 in x 9 7/16 in (26.5 cm x 25 cm x 24 cm)
Gift of Domino's Pizza, Inc.
A red earthenware, small, flat-bottomed pot with narrow base and wide bulbous neck with three protrusions at the rim, a large circular hole pierced into the side of the lower body, covered in a green lead glaze with iridescence and calcification. 
Chinese
Cooking Stove
earthenware with lead glaze
4 5/16 in x 5 7/16 in x 5 7/16 in (11 cm x 13.8 cm x 13.8 cm);7 7/8 in (20 cm);7 7/8 in (20 cm);5 11/16 in (14.4 cm)
The Oliver J. Todd Memorial Collection

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Part of 1 Learning Collection

Cabinet A: Shelf 1
<p>Selections from the Bohlen Wood Art Collection ...

Cabinet A: Shelf 2
<p>Selections from the Bohlen Wood Art Collection ...

Cabinet A: Shelf 3
<p>Selections from the Bohlen Wood Art Collection ...

Cabinet B: Shelf 1
<p>Selections from the Bohlen Wood Art Collection ...

Cabinet B: Shelf 2
<p>Selections from the Bohlen Wood Art Collection ...

Cabinet B: Shelf 3
<p>Selections from the Bohlen Wood Art Collection ...

Cabinet C: Shelf 1
<p>Selections from the Bohlen Wood Art Collection ...

Cabinet C: Shelf 2
<p>Selections from the Bohlen Wood Art Collection ...

Cabinet C: Shelf 3
<p>Inkwells </p>

Cabinet D: Shelf 1
<p>Selections from the Bohlen Wood Art Collection ...

Cabinet D: Shelf 2
<p>Inkwells </p>

Cabinet D: Shelf 3
<p>Inkwells </p>

Cabinet E: Shelf 1
<p>Selections from the James Marshall Plumer Collec...

Cabinet E: Shelf 2
<p>Selections from the James Marshall Plumer Collec...

Cabinet E: Shelf 3
<p>Selections from the James Marshall Plumer Collec...

Cabinet F: Shelf 1
<p>Mortuary Art from China </p>

Cabinet F: Shelf 2
<p>Mortuary Art from China</p>

Cabinet F: Shelf 3
<p>Mortuary Art from China</p>

Cabinet G: Shelf 1
<p>Mortuary Art from China</p>

Cabinet G: Shelf 2
<p>Mortuary Art from China</p>

Cabinet G: Shelf 3 
<p>Mortuary Art from China</p>

Cabinet H: Shelf 1
<p>Mortuary Art from China</p>

Cabinet H: Shelf 2
<p>Mortuary Art from China </p>

Cabinet H: Shelf 3
<p>Mortuary Art from China</p>

Cabinet I: Shelf 1
<p>Art of Islam</p>

Cabinet I: Shelf 2
<p>Art of Islam</p>

Cabinet I: Shelf 3
<p>Art of Islam</p>

Cabinet J: Shelf 1
<p>Art of Islam</p>

Cabinet J: Shelf 2
<p>Art of Islam</p>

Cabinet J: Shelf 3
<p>Art of Islam</p>

Cabinet K: Shelf 1
<p>Religious Sculpture from India</p>

Cabinet K: Shelf 2
<p>Religious Sculpture from India</p>

Cabinet K: Shelf 3
<p>Art of Islam</p>

Cabinet L: Shelf 1
<p>Blue-and-White Porcelain and Stoneware</p>

Cabinet L: Shelf 2
<p>Blue-and-White Porcelain and Stoneware</p>

Cabinet L: Shelf 3
<p>Blue-and-White Porcelain and Stoneware</p>

Cabinet M: Shelf 1
<p>Selections from the Dora and William Hunter Coll...

Cabinet M: Shelf 2
<p>Selections from the Dora and William Hunter Coll...

Cabinet M: Shelf 3
<p>Blue-and-White Porcelain and Stoneware</p>

Cabinet N: Shelf 1
<p>Selections from the Margaret Watson Parker Colle...

Cabinet N: Shelf 2
<p>Selections from the Margaret Watson Parker Colle...

Cabinet N: Shelf 3
<p>Celadon Wares in Asia</p>

Cabinet O: Shelf 1
<p>Celadon Wares in Asia</p>

Cabinet O: Shelf 2
<p>Celadon Wares in Asia</p>

Cabinet O: Shelf 3
<p>Celadon Wares in Asia</p>

Cabinet P: Shelf 1
<p>Celadon Wares in Asia</p>

Cabinet P: Shelf 2
<p>Celadon Wares in Asia</p>

Cabinet P: Shelf 3
<p>Celadon Wares in Asia</p>

Cabinet Q: Shelf 1
<p>Selections from the Ellen and Richard Laing Coll...

Cabinet Q: Shelf 2
<p>Selections from the Ellen and Richard Laing Coll...

Cabinet Q: Shelf 3
<p>Selections from the Ellen and Richard Laing Coll...

Cabinet Q: Shelf 4
<p>American Plaster Casts</p>

Cabinet R: Shelf 1
<p>American Plaster Casts</p>

Cabinet R: Shelf 2
<p>Apostle Spoons and American Silver</p>

Cabinet R: Shelf 3
<p>Modernist Glass and American Art Pottery</p>

Cabinet R: Shelf 4
<p>American Plaster Casts</p>

Cabinet S: Shelf 1
<p>American Silver</p>

Cabinet S: Shelf 2
<p>Tiffany Glass</p>

Cabinet S: Shelf 3
<p>American Silver</p>

Cabinet T: Shelf 1
<p>American Art Pottery</p>

Cabinet T: Shelf 2
<p>American Art Pottery</p>

Cabinet T: Shelf 3
<p>Native American Art</p>

Cabinet U: Shelf 1
<p>American Art Pottery</p>

Cabinet U: Shelf 2
<p>American Art Pottery</p>

Cabinet U: Shelf 3
<p>Native American Art</p>

Cabinet V: Shelf 1
<p>The Human Figure in African Art</p>

Cabinet V: Shelf 2
<p>African Miniature Masks</p>

Cabinet V: Shelf 3
<p>African Masks and Masquerades</p>

Cabinet W: Shelf 1
<p>The Head in African Art</p>

Cabinet W: Shelf 2
<p>Selections from the Helmut Stern Collection</p>

Cabinet W: Shelf 3
<p>Selections from the Helmut Stern Collection</p>

Cabinet W: Shelf 4
<p>African Masks and Masquerades</p>

Cabinet X: Shelf 1
<p>Modern Sculpture</p>

Cabinet X: Shelf 2
<p>Modern Sculpture</p>

Cabinet X: Shelf 3
<p>Modern Sculpture</p>

Cabinet X: Shelf 4
<p>Modern Sculpture</p>

Cabinet Y: Shelf 1
<p>Selections from the Fusfeld Art Collection</p>

Cabinet Y: Shelf 2
<p>Contemporary Art</p>

Cabinet Y: Shelf 3
<p>Contemporary Art</p>

Cabinet Y: Shelf 4
<p>Contemporary Art</p>

9 Collection Object Sources

Jar (1993/1.54)
Bowl (1974/1.173)
Bowl (1990/1.270)
Ladle (1990/1.261)
Dish (1981/2.76)
Ear Cup (1990/1.262)
Model of a pigpen (1993/1.64.1-2)
Cooking Stove (1974/1.174)

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Last Updated

June 5, 2020 11:23 a.m.

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