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 ewer and lid surmounted by a seated lion

  • loan
  • Literature notes

    Although this ewer may have been inspired by Song dynasty (AD 960–1279) qingbai wares, its shape, with its very thin spout with straight tip, thin bridge to the neck, weak handle, and the flat modelling of the lion finial are all incompatible with an early date.

    The pear-shaped ewer is of oval section, with circular neck and oval foot, thin spout with straight bridge to the neck, and a curved handle of uneven shape, with a deep groove. The domed cover has an everted rim and a seated lion as knob. The piece is made of fine white stoneware, covered with a transparent, blue-tinged glaze and firing orange where exposed in the firing. Both sides are incised with a flower spray and the cover with scroll elements. The rim, footring and underside of the cover are unglazed.
  • Details

    Associated place
    Asia China (place of creation)
    Date
    1911 - 1936
    Material and technique
    porcelain, thrown, with incised decoration and hand-modelled handle and figurine luted to the ewer and lid with slip, under a bluish-white glaze (qingbai ware)
    Dimensions
    with lid 25.3 x 13.4 x 7.2 cm (height x width x depth)
    Material index
    Technique index
    Object type index
    containervessel ewer,
    No. of items
    2
    Credit line
    Lent by the Sir Alan Barlow Collection Trust.
    Accession no.
    LI1301.200
  • 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. C189

Glossary (4)

glaze, luted, porcelain, slip

  • glaze

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

  • luted

    The fusion of parts of ceramics using dilute clay slip.

  • porcelain

    Ceramic material composed of kaolin, quartz, and feldspar which is fired to a temperature of c.1350-1400⁰c. The resulting ceramic is vitreous, translucent, and white in colour.

  • slip

    A semi-fluid clay applied to a ceramic before glazing either to coat the surface or for decorative effect.

Location

    • 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

  • The Barlow Collection by the University of Sussex

    The Barlow Collection

    Although this ewer may have been inspired by Song dynasty (AD 960–1279) qingbai wares, its shape, with its very thin spout with straight tip, thin bridge to the neck, weak handle, and the flat modelling of the lion finial are all incompatible with an early date.

    The pear-shaped ewer is of oval section, with circular neck and oval foot, thin spout with straight bridge to the neck, and a curved handle of uneven shape, with a deep groove. The domed cover has an everted rim and a seated lion as knob. The piece is made of fine white stoneware, covered with a transparent, blue-tinged glaze and firing orange where exposed in the firing. Both sides are incised with a flower spray and the cover with scroll elements. The rim, footring and underside of the cover are unglazed.
Notice

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