Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

The Barlow Collection

A select catalogue of the Barlow collection of Chinese Ceramics, Bronzes and Jades by the University of Sussex (published Sussex, 2006).

The Barlow Collection by the University of Sussex

Publications online: 456 objects

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White ware bowl with ducks swimming between lotus plants

  • Literature notes

    The dish has everted sides with a distinct angle, shaped by pressing the piece over a mould after throwing, and a shallow foot with recessed base. The inside was decorated before moulding with two ducks swimming on waves between two lotus plants, each with a flower and a leaf, arranged in a radiating fashion around a small trefoil waterplant in the centre, all quickly incised with single and double outlines and combed details. The rim is outlined by a thin line, the outside is plain. The near-white stoneware is covered with a transparent cream-coloured glaze of fine texture, which also covers the foot, where some fingernail markings show how the piece was held during glazing. The glaze forms characteristic darker yellowish ‘tears’ on the outside. The piece was fired standing on the unglazed rim, which was subsequently bound in copper to hide its raw edge.
  • Details

    Associated place
    AsiaChinaHebei province Ding kilns (place of creation)
    Date
    11th century (1001 - 1100)
    Northern Song Dynasty (AD 960 - 1127)
    Material and technique
    stoneware, thrown, with incised and combed decoration under a white glaze; glazed base; copper rim
    Dimensions
    4.3 cm (height)
    21.2 cm (diameter)
    Material index
    Technique index
    Object type index
    No. of items
    1
    Credit line
    Lent by the Sir Alan Barlow Collection Trust.
    Accession no.
    LI1301.234
  • 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. C222

Glossary (2)

glaze, stoneware

  • glaze

    Vitreous coating applied to the surface of a ceramic to make it impermeable or for decorative effect.

  • 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

    • Second floor | Room 38 | China from 800

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Publications online

  • The Barlow Collection by the University of Sussex

    The Barlow Collection

    The dish has everted sides with a distinct angle, shaped by pressing the piece over a mould after throwing, and a shallow foot with recessed base. The inside was decorated before moulding with two ducks swimming on waves between two lotus plants, each with a flower and a leaf, arranged in a radiating fashion around a small trefoil waterplant in the centre, all quickly incised with single and double outlines and combed details. The rim is outlined by a thin line, the outside is plain. The near-white stoneware is covered with a transparent cream-coloured glaze of fine texture, which also covers the foot, where some fingernail markings show how the piece was held during glazing. The glaze forms characteristic darker yellowish ‘tears’ on the outside. The piece was fired standing on the unglazed rim, which was subsequently bound in copper to hide its raw edge.
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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