Water dropper in the form of a peach

Detail of a pattern
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At A Glance

  • Period

    16th century
  • Geography

    Red River Delta kilns, Hai Duong province, Vietnam
  • Material

    Stoneware with cobalt pigment under clear glaze
  • Dimension

    H x W x D: 2.5 x 3.5 x 3.9 cm (1 x 1 3/8 x 1 9/16 in)
  • Accession Number

    F1989.18
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_F1989.18

Object Details

  • Description

    Small pot molded in the shape of a peach with a small round mouth, stem in relief and concave base.
    Clay: pale grey.
    Glaze: whitish, opaque, coarsely crackled, abraded to even matteness on surface except where protected near raised stem and pointed end of peach form; thin clear glaze on interior; base unglazed.
    Decoration: in inky blue underglaze cobalt. Dotted texture on stem; blossom and two leaves on body at end of stem. Bat on upper surface of body at pointed end. The peach and the bat are emblematic of longevity and good luck, following Chinese imagery.
    Mark: none.
    Condition: chip missing from one end of stem.
  • Provenance

    From 1947 to 1989
    Dean Frasché, Greenwich, CT, acquired in Batavia (Jakarta) in 1947 [1]
    From 1989
    Freer Gallery of Art, given by Dean Frasché in 1989
    Notes:
    [1] According to Curatorial Note 3 in the object record.
  • Collection

    Freer Gallery of Art Collection
  • Exhibition History

    Vietnamese Ceramics from the Red River Delta (July 10, 2005 to November 15, 2009)
  • Previous custodian or owner

    Dean F. Frasche (1906-1994)
  • Origin

    Red River Delta kilns, Hai Duong province, Vietnam
  • Credit Line

    Gift of Dean Frasché
  • Type

    Vessel
  • Restrictions and Rights

    Usage Conditions Apply

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