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
White ware funerary vase and lid with a dragon and bird
- loan
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Literature notes
The heavily potted vase has a tall ovoid body on a low, broad foot, a tall neck with cup-shaped mouth, and a conical cover with everted rim. The cover is surmounted by a bird with spread wings, its head in the air. The shoulder is surrounded by a pie-crust band and applied with a large, freely modelled dragon, its long snout sticking out, the left front claw grasping a pearl, the back feet resting on patches with impressed rings. The animal’s eyes, nose, teeth, ears, horns, mane as well as hooks along the serrated spine are all individually applied, its scaly body indicated through ring-stamping. The body curls all around the neck of the vase, the tail reaching high up, with a cloud motif applied above the dragon’s head and a small reclining boy at the back. The opaque bluish-white glaze leaves the footring, base, inside of cover and accidental patches above the foot free. The stoneware body is off-white but now discoloured a reddish-brown due to contact with earth. The cover was fired in place and forcibly removed, since it had adhered. -
Details
- Associated place
- Date
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13th century (1201 - 1300)
Southern Song Dynasty (1127 - 1279)
- Material and technique
- porcelain, thrown, with impressed and ring-stamped decoration under a bluish-white glaze (qingbai ware); figurines hand-modelled and luted to the vase and lid with slip; glazed base; unglazed rim
- Dimensions
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36.5 x 19 x 16 cm (height x width x depth)
at base 7.4 cm (diameter)
- Material index
- Technique index
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- 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.
- LI1301.242
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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. C230
Glossary (4)
glaze, luted, porcelain, slip
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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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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.
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slip
A semi-fluid clay applied to a ceramic before glazing either to coat the surface or for decorative effect.
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
-
The Barlow Collection
The heavily potted vase has a tall ovoid body on a low, broad foot, a tall neck with cup-shaped mouth, and a conical cover with everted rim. The cover is surmounted by a bird with spread wings, its head in the air. The shoulder is surrounded by a pie-crust band and applied with a large, freely modelled dragon, its long snout sticking out, the left front claw grasping a pearl, the back feet resting on patches with impressed rings. The animal’s eyes, nose, teeth, ears, horns, mane as well as hooks along the serrated spine are all individually applied, its scaly body indicated through ring-stamping. The body curls all around the neck of the vase, the tail reaching high up, with a cloud motif applied above the dragon’s head and a small reclining boy at the back. The opaque bluish-white glaze leaves the footring, base, inside of cover and accidental patches above the foot free. The stoneware body is off-white but now discoloured a reddish-brown due to contact with earth. The cover was fired in place and forcibly removed, since it had adhered.
Notice
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