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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Jar with appliqué arabesque decoration under a three colour glaze

  • loan
  • Literature notes

    Applied designs are well known from the Gongxian kilns and many sprig moulds have been found at the kiln site. The thick appliqués of this jar, curved to match the shape of the walls, are, however, unusual.

    The well-rounded jar has a wide shoulder and tapers towards the flat base, flaring slightly just above, and has a low, wide neck which curves outward. The shoulders are decorated with four moulded appliqués with symmetrical arabesque motifs. The light beige-coloured pottery body is covered with a white slip and the sides with splashed sancai (‘three colour’) glazes, applied in dots of amber-yellow, green and white, the neck and appliqués in monochrome green, and the inside shows a thin layer of pale yellow glaze. The lowest part of the sides shows the unglazed body, partly covered with slip. On the rim are three spur marks were a cover was fired in place.
  • Details

    Associated place
    AsiaChina Henan province (Gongxian kiln-sites) (place of creation)
    Date
    7th - 8th century AD (AD 601 - 800)
    Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 907)
    Material and technique
    earthenware, thrown, covered in white slip and with sprig-moulded decoration under a sancai glaze; unglazed base; glazed rim; yellow glaze inside
    Dimensions
    18 cm (height)
    22 cm (diameter)
    at base 11.4 cm (diameter)
    Material index
    Technique index
    Object type index
    containervessel jar,
    No. of items
    1
    Credit line
    Lent by the Sir Alan Barlow Collection Trust.
    Accession no.
    LI1301.39
  • 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. C4

Glossary (3)

earthenware, glaze, slip

  • earthenware

    Ceramic material made of clay which is fired to a temperature of c.1000-1200⁰c. The resulting ceramic is non-vitreous and varies in colour from dark red to yellow.

  • glaze

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

  • 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

    Applied designs are well known from the Gongxian kilns and many sprig moulds have been found at the kiln site. The thick appliqués of this jar, curved to match the shape of the walls, are, however, unusual.

    The well-rounded jar has a wide shoulder and tapers towards the flat base, flaring slightly just above, and has a low, wide neck which curves outward. The shoulders are decorated with four moulded appliqués with symmetrical arabesque motifs. The light beige-coloured pottery body is covered with a white slip and the sides with splashed sancai (‘three colour’) glazes, applied in dots of amber-yellow, green and white, the neck and appliqués in monochrome green, and the inside shows a thin layer of pale yellow glaze. The lowest part of the sides shows the unglazed body, partly covered with slip. On the rim are three spur marks were a cover was fired in place.
Notice

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