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
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Ewer in the form of a phoenix
- loan
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Literature notes
The slender ewer is of oval section, formed from two vertical moulds, the pear-shaped body resting on a splayed mock foot, the neck with a phoenix head moulded in relief, with a sharp beak holding a pearl, distinct eyes, curly eyebrows, small ears and a shaped foliate crest below the oval mouth of the vessel. A handle with curling foliate terminals joins the bird’s head with the ewer’s shoulder. Both sides are moulded in relief with an oval flower-framed panel enclosing on one side an equestrian archer in flying gallop aiming his bow backwards to perform the ‘Parthian shot’, and on the other side a phoenix, standing on one leg, with wings spread and tail pointing up. The beige-coloured earthenware bears a transparent straw-coloured glaze, which is crackled and partly degraded, and ends around the foot, leaving the flat base unglazed. -
Details
- Associated place
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Asia › China › Henan province (place of creation)
- Date
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7th - 8th century AD (AD 601 - 800)
Tang Dynasty (AD 618 - 907)
- Material and technique
- earthenware, individual sections thrown and luted together with slip, and with mould-made decoration under a transparent glaze; unglazed base; glazed rim
- Dimensions
- 32.8 x 15.1 x 12.3 cm (height x width x depth)
- Material index
- Technique index
- Object type index
- No. of items
- 1
- Credit line
- Lent by the Sir Alan Barlow Collection Trust.
- Accession no.
- LI1301.247
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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. C235
Glossary (5)
earthenware, glaze, luted, phoenix, slip
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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.
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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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phoenix
Mythical bird known as hōō in Japan. The Islamic tradition appropriated the far-eastern iconography of the phoenix and used it to represent another mythical bird, the simurgh.
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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 slender ewer is of oval section, formed from two vertical moulds, the pear-shaped body resting on a splayed mock foot, the neck with a phoenix head moulded in relief, with a sharp beak holding a pearl, distinct eyes, curly eyebrows, small ears and a shaped foliate crest below the oval mouth of the vessel. A handle with curling foliate terminals joins the bird’s head with the ewer’s shoulder. Both sides are moulded in relief with an oval flower-framed panel enclosing on one side an equestrian archer in flying gallop aiming his bow backwards to perform the ‘Parthian shot’, and on the other side a phoenix, standing on one leg, with wings spread and tail pointing up. The beige-coloured earthenware bears a transparent straw-coloured glaze, which is crackled and partly degraded, and ends around the foot, leaving the flat base unglazed.
Notice
Object information may not accurately reflect the actual contents of the original publication, since our online objects contain current information held in our collections database. Click on 'buy this publication' to purchase printed versions of our online publications, where available, or contact the Jameel Study Centre to arrange access to books on our collections that are now out of print.
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