The Barlow Collection
A select catalogue of the Barlow collection of Chinese Ceramics, Bronzes and Jades by the University of Sussex (published Sussex, 2006).
Publications online: 456 objects
Greenware funerary jar with dragon and a bird
- loan
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Literature notes
The tall ovoid jar narrows down to the straight narrow neck in three bulging steps and is supported on a straight foot with low footring. The shoulder is applied with a freely modelled figure of a dragon, its wide open mouth and one claw reaching for a flaming pearl, elaborately sculpted with long antler-like horns, small goatee beard, two tufts of hair behind the head, a serrated spine and each leg with further tufts of hair and four sharp claws. The body is incised with overall scales. The shallow domed cover has a wide everted rim and a bird attached as knob. A fine blue-green glaze covers the jar, but leaves its rim and footring free, where the yellowish-brown biscuit is visible. The cover bears a similar glaze, its underside is unglazed and has fired a bright brick-red. -
Details
- Associated place
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Asia › China › Zhejiang province › Longquan kilns (place of creation)
- Date
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jar 13th century (1201 - 1300)
Southern Song Dynasty (1127 - 1279)
lid probably 20th century (1901 - 2000)
- Material and technique
- stoneware, thrown, with incised and modelled decoration under a green glaze; figurines hand-modelled and luted to the jar with slip; glazed base; unglazed rim
- Dimensions
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with lid 24.5 cm (height)
without lid 19.3 cm (height)
lid 8.6 cm (diameter)
- Material index
- Technique index
- Object type index
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container › vessel › pot › burial-pot,
- No. of items
- 2
- Credit line
- Lent by the Sir Alan Barlow Collection Trust.
- Accession no.
- LI1301.285
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Further reading
University of Sussex, and Arts and Humanities Research Council, The Barlow Collection, supervised by Regina Krahl, Maurice Howard, and Aiden Leeves (Sussex: University of Sussex, 2006), no. C280
Glossary (4)
glaze, luted, slip, stoneware
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glaze
Vitreous coating applied to the surface of a ceramic to make it impermeable or for decorative effect.
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luted
The fusion of parts of ceramics using dilute clay slip.
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slip
A semi-fluid clay applied to a ceramic before glazing either to coat the surface or for decorative effect.
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stoneware
Ceramic material made of clay which is fired to a temperature of c.1200-1300⁰c and is often buff or grey in colour.
Location
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- currently in research collection
Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.
Publications online
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The Barlow Collection
The tall ovoid jar narrows down to the straight narrow neck in three bulging steps and is supported on a straight foot with low footring. The shoulder is applied with a freely modelled figure of a dragon, its wide open mouth and one claw reaching for a flaming pearl, elaborately sculpted with long antler-like horns, small goatee beard, two tufts of hair behind the head, a serrated spine and each leg with further tufts of hair and four sharp claws. The body is incised with overall scales. The shallow domed cover has a wide everted rim and a bird attached as knob. A fine blue-green glaze covers the jar, but leaves its rim and footring free, where the yellowish-brown biscuit is visible. The cover bears a similar glaze, its underside is unglazed and has fired a bright brick-red.
Notice
Object information may not accurately reflect the actual contents of the original publication, since our online objects contain current information held in our collections database. Click on 'buy this publication' to purchase printed versions of our online publications, where available, or contact the Jameel Study Centre to arrange access to books on our collections that are now out of print.
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