Accession Number2006/2.82
TitleBowl
Artist(s)ChineseArtist NationalityChinese (culture or style)Object Creation Date13th century - 14th centuryMedium & SupportStoneware with glazeDimensions 1 7/16 in x 5 3/16 in (3.65 cm x 13.18 cm)
Credit LineGift of Marvin EisenbergSubject matterA
longquan celadon bowl of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), with two fish molded in the interior. Bowls with this motif were mass-produced at the Longquan kilns during this time period. Fish in Chinese is pronounced
yu, which is a homonym for abundance thus a fish motif is a wish for abundance.
Longquan is the most representative, widespread, and esteemed ware of the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279). Production started during the Five Dynasties period (907–960) at the kilns near the market town of Longquan, where in later dynasties much of the ware was collected for shipping. Technological advances such as the development of a multi-chambered, rising kiln and the use of stacked saggars (protective clay boxes) allowed for increased production in the Southern Song. In Yuan (1271–1368) and Ming (1368–1644) times, the kilns supplied wares to a domestic market as well as to overseas markets in Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia.
Physical DescriptionA small stoneware bowl on a foot ring with an everted, concave rim. The interior is molded with two fish and covered in a gray-green celadon glaze.
Primary Object Classification Ceramic Primary Object TypebowlCollection AreaAsianRightsIf you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit
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Keywords
bowls (vessels)
celadon (glaze)
ceramic (material)
stoneware (pottery)