Yaozhou ware bowl with molded design of two infants among foliage

Object Details

• Description

  Bowl with small foot and slightly flaring rim.

  Clay: grayish-brown stoneware.

  Glaze: transparent, grayish-green, bubbly.

  Decoration: moulded, two babies amid flowering vines inside.

• Label

  This bowl bears the thin, translucent, olive green glaze characteristic of Yaozhou ware, the representative celadon of north China. The glaze makes visible the fine detail of mold-impressed decoration, consisting of two chubby boys bearing floral scrolls, which symbolizes a wish for male progeny.

• Provenance

  From at least 1954 or 1955 to 1961

  C. T. Loo & Company, New York, from at least 1954 or 1955 [1]

  From 1961

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from C. T. Loo & Company on May 3, 1961 [2]

  Notes:

  [1] See A. G. Wenley's letter to Frank Caro, dated April 25, 1961, in which he lists the dish among the objects left with the Freer Gallery by Caro for consideration of purchase in 1954 and 1955, copy in object file.

  [2] See C. T. Loo's & Co.'s invoice, dated May 3, 1961, copy in object file.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Shades of Green and Blue: Chinese Celadon Ceramics (July 15, 1997 to September 7, 2004)

  Chinese Ceramics (April 11, 1978 to September 4, 1980)

• Previous custodian or owner

  C.T. Loo & Company (1914-1948)

• Origin

  Yaozhou kilns, Huangbao, Shaanxi province, China

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1100s, 1200s

• Name

  C.T. Loo & Company

• Place

  Yaozhou kilns, Huangbao, Shaanxi province, China

• Topic

  Jin dynasty (1115 - 1234), Art, Green glaze, Chinese Art, Ceramics, Yaozhou ware

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)