Bulb bowl with impressed character wu (five)

Detail of a pattern
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At A Glance

  • Period

    15th century
  • Geography

    Henan province, China
  • Material

    Stoneware with Jun glaze and copper pigment
  • Dimension

    H x Diam: 9.2 × 21.7 cm (3 5/8 × 8 9/16 in)
  • Accession Number

    F1911.349
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_F1911.349

Object Details

  • Description

    Bulb-bowl: circular, on three cloud-scroll feet. Two rows of studs. Incised numeral wu (five), two inscriptions, and spur-marks on the base. Teakwood stand.
    Clay: hard, dense, gray.
    Glaze: rich rose-purple and blue, clouded with gray; light olive on salient parts. Pitted.
  • Inscriptions

    two inscriptions, and spur-marks on the base
  • Provenance

    To 1911
    Yen Ching Tong, Beijing, to 1911 [1]
    From 1911 to 1919
    Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Yen Ching Tong in 1911 [2]
    From 1920
    Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]
    Notes:
    [1] See Original Pottery List, L. 2134, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.
    [2] See note 1.
    [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.
  • Collection

    Freer Gallery of Art Collection
  • Previous custodian or owner

    Yen Ching Tong (C.L. Freer source)
    Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)
  • Origin

    Henan province, China
  • Credit Line

    Gift of Charles Lang Freer
  • Type

    Vessel
  • Restrictions and Rights

    Usage Conditions Apply

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