Vase

Accession Number
1985/2.129

Title
Vase

Artist(s)
Chinese

Artist Nationality
Chinese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
14th century

Medium & Support
stoneware

Dimensions
7 1/4 in x 4 5/16 in x 4 5/16 in (18.5 cm x 11 cm x 11 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Gail and Jonathan Holstein

Subject matter
A gray stoneware meiping (梅瓶) "plum blossom vase" of the late Yuan (1279-1368) or early Ming dynasty (1368-1644).

These were thought to have been made by Southern provincial kilns of the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties to be exported to the Philippines. Most of these have been excavated from a site in Manila. The meiping or plum blossom vase form was originally made to store rice "wine," but got its name because the bottle form can attractively display a single branch of plum blossoms.

A similar bottle is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, Museum number FE.36-1975.

Physical Description
A loosely wheel-thrown, gray stoneware, unglazed vase of meiping (梅瓶) form, tall and tapered with coarse inclusions. The vase has wide shoulders and a narrow mouth, with a small neck. Uneven contour and visible throwing lines leave a ribbed surface, showing kiln effects. 

Primary Object Classification
Ceramic

Primary Object Type
vase

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
bottles
ceramic (material)
flower vases
jar
stoneware (pottery)

& Author Notes

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