Room 10 | China 3000 BC-AD 800 gallery
Discover over 3000 years of Chinese history and culture through surviving artefacts, objects and texts.
Greenwares from the Yue Kilns in Zhejiang Province
High-fired green-glazed ceramics were first made in east China more than 3,000 years ago. The earliest pieces imitated the shapes and decoration of bronze ritual vessels. Later wares were made for daily use and for burial in tombs. Many burial wares were ceramic models that showed aspects of daily life, such as cooking stoves or domestic animals. From about AD 300 onwards, the Yue kilns began producing inkstones and waterdroppers for calligraphers. In the Tang dynasty (AD 618-906) the wares were used for tea-drinking. They were much admired and praised by poets.
'In the breezes and mists of autumn the Yue kilns are opened to reveal the brilliant greens of a thousand mountains.'
(Lu Guimeng, died AD 881)
Greenware stem dish with acanthus leaf (EA1956.3914)
Changsha ware ewer with birds and flowers (EA1973.8)
Greenware ewer with chicken head spout (EA1956.277)
Black ware ewer with chicken head spout (EA1956.944)
Greenware ewer with chicken head spout (EA1956.211)
Greenware stand in the form of three lions (EA1956.976)
Greenware ewer with chicken head spout (LI1301.373)
Greenware globular jar with lotus petals (EA1956.1222)
Greenware globular jar (EA1956.282)
Greenware saucer dish (EA1956.318)
Greenware bowl (EA1956.306)
Greenware jar with loop handles (EA1956.982)
Greenware guan, or jar, with loop handles (EA1956.284)
Greenware water pot with loop handles (EA1956.367)
Greenware guan, or jar, with loop handles (EA1956.217)
Greenware guan, or jar, with loop handles (EA1956.273)
Greenware vase, or hu, with impressed decoration (EA1956.3921)
Greenware vase, or hu, with chicken head decoration (EA1956.331)
Greenware vase, or hu, with impressed decoration (EA1956.332)
Greenware vase, or hu, with dish-shaped mouth (EA1956.259)
Greenware bowl with animal masks (EA1956.233)
Greenware saucer dish with lotus leaves (EA1956.324)
Greenware bowl with inscription (EA1956.735)
White ware bowl with thick rolled rim (EA1956.1150)
Greenware five-lobed dish (EA1956.235)
Greenware vase, or hu, with dish-shaped mouth and lotus decoration (EA1956.329)
Greenware bowl and lid surmounted by an animal (EA1956.971)
Greenware circular box and lid with flower decoration (EA1956.231)
Greenware circular box and lid with floral decoration (EA1956.330)
Greenware circular box and lid with floral decoration (EA1956.279)
Greenware circular box and lid with peony sprays (EA1956.1261)
Greenware circular box and lid with floral design (EA1956.1215)
Greenware circular box and lid with peony decoration (EA1956.1218)
Greenware circular box and lid with lotus flowers (EA1956.214)
Greenware jar in the form of a double fish (EA1956.288)
Greenware six-lobed jar with petals (EA1956.375)
Greenware bowl with foliated rim (EA1956.1021)
Greenware vase in double-gourd form (EA1956.305)
Greenware ladle with handle in the form of a bird-head (EA1956.381)
Greenware vessel in the form of a lion (EA1956.975)
Greenware stem cup with lotus petals (EA1956.1205)
Greenware 'ear' cup (EA1995.36)
Greenware miniature ewer with chicken (EA1956.371)
Greenware ear-cup and tray (EA1955.16)
Greenware cup stand with floral design (EA1956.317)
Greenware guan, or jar, with loop handles (EA1956.281)
Greenware jar with chicken head and tail (EA1956.974)
Greenware guan, or jar, with dish-shaped mouth (EA1956.276)
Greenware bowl with ribbed decoration (EA1956.933)
Greenware circular box and lid with floral decoration (EA1956.1224)
Greenware circular box and lid with floral stem decoration (EA1956.1226)
Greenware circular box and lid with lotus cover (EA1956.1208)
Greenware circular box and lid with floral decoration (EA1956.298)
Greenware circular box and lid with two mandarin ducks (EA1956.1020)
Greenware globular jar (EA1956.295)
Greenware water pot with radial decoration (EA1956.297)
Greenware water pot with four feet (EA1956.208)
Greenware five-lobed water pot (EA1956.309)
Greenware four-lobed water pot with four legs (EA1956.304)
Greenware huzi, or chamber pot, in animal form (EA1956.953)
Greenware basin with small kneeling figure (EA1956.239)
Greenware basin with fish, phoenix, and riding figures (EA1956.928)
Greenware stem bowl with horses (EA1956.954)
Greenware jar with chicken head and tail (EA1956.3908)
Greenware globular jar and stand (EA1980.246)
Greenware tripod bowl with impressed decoration (EA1956.385)
Greenware boshanlu, or hill censer (EA1956.956)
Greenware boshanlu, or hill censer (EA1956.380)
Greenware tripod vessel with inner bowl (EA1956.224)
Greenware tray and cup (EA1992.117)
Greenware tripod lamp (EA1956.357)
Greenware tripod bowl (EA1956.946)
Greenware tripod bowl with hoof-shaped feet (EA1956.942)
Greenware guan, or jar, with dish-shaped mouth and riding horses (EA1956.3907)
Greenware vase, or hu, with dish-shaped mouth (EA1956.3923)
Greenware jar with horse and rider (EA1956.939)
Greenware footed bowl (EA1956.244)
Greenware bowl with phoenix and floral decoration (EA1956.243)
Greenware ear-cup (EA1956.948)
Greenware bowl with bands of decoration (EA1956.238)
Five-lobed greenware stem cup (EA1956.234)
Greenware jar and cover with two birds (EA1956.947)
Greenware vase, or hu, with dish-shaped mouth (EA1956.936)
Greenware guan, or jar, with dish-shaped mouth and bands of decoration (EA1956.3925)
Greenware bowl with T-shaped handle (EA1956.240)
Greenware jar with ribbed decoration (EA1956.931)
Notice
Objects may have since been removed or replaced from a gallery. Click into an individual object record to confirm whether or not an object is currently on display. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis, so contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular Eastern Art object.
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