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 tripod incense burner
- loan
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Literature notes
This piece is highly unusual in several ways: it is very heavy; the shape, which appears to be a hybrid between a tripod incense burner and a flower pot with pierced base, does not seem to be functional; the glaze is unusually opaque; the handles are strangely shaped and surprisingly thin in relation to the otherwise sturdy potting; and the legs do not have the well-known paw shape and are oddly hollowed out underneath. Yet the type has close counterparts from a documented historical context and appears to represent a late product of the Longquan kilns.
The piece is heavily potted, with a globular body with pierced base, straight neck and everted rim. It has a low, narrow circular foot, but is supported on three bulbous legs, which are sturdily potted and hollowed out on the inside, with small feet. Thin D-shaped handles are attached on either side. The glaze is unusually opaque, almost like Jun ware, of a light, milky-green tone, the undersides of the legs and the circular foot are revealing a brown-burnt biscuit. The glaze has burst open in the firing near one foot. -
Details
- Associated place
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Asia › China › Zhejiang province › Longquan kilns (place of creation)
- Date
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15th - 16th century (1401 - 1600)
Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644)
- Material and technique
- stoneware, thrown, with feet and handles hand-modelled and luted to the incense burner with slip under a green celadon glaze; pierced base
- Dimensions
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13.9 cm (height)
12.5 cm (diameter)
- Material index
- Technique index
- Object type index
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container › vessel › pot › plant-pot › flower-pot,
- No. of items
- 1
- Credit line
- Lent by the Sir Alan Barlow Collection Trust.
- Accession no.
- LI1301.68
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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. C35
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
-
The Barlow Collection
This piece is highly unusual in several ways: it is very heavy; the shape, which appears to be a hybrid between a tripod incense burner and a flower pot with pierced base, does not seem to be functional; the glaze is unusually opaque; the handles are strangely shaped and surprisingly thin in relation to the otherwise sturdy potting; and the legs do not have the well-known paw shape and are oddly hollowed out underneath. Yet the type has close counterparts from a documented historical context and appears to represent a late product of the Longquan kilns.
The piece is heavily potted, with a globular body with pierced base, straight neck and everted rim. It has a low, narrow circular foot, but is supported on three bulbous legs, which are sturdily potted and hollowed out on the inside, with small feet. Thin D-shaped handles are attached on either side. The glaze is unusually opaque, almost like Jun ware, of a light, milky-green tone, the undersides of the legs and the circular foot are revealing a brown-burnt biscuit. The glaze has burst open in the firing near one foot.
Notice
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