Beaker-shaped vase

Object Details

• Label

  The Chinese describe the cool, blue-tinged white glaze of this beaker as "moon white," which Western collectors translated into French as "clair de lune." The shape of the trumpet-mouthed vessel, including the bulging midsection and the details of the cross marks near the foot, imitates a Chinese bronze vessel called a gu, used as early as the Shang dynasty (ca. 1700-1050 BCE). The pale glaze also reflects antiquarian interests in its reference to some of the subtle monochrome glazes popular during the Song dynasty (960-1279).

• Provenance

  To ?

  Mr O. [1]

  To 1990

  Libbie Moody Thompson (1897-1990), Galveston, Texas. [2]

  From 1990 to 1991

  Estate of Libbie Moody Thompson. [3]

  From 1991

  Freer Gallery of Art, bequeathed by Libbie Moody Thompson. [4]

  Notes:

  [1] See Curatorial Remark 4 in the object record.

  [2] See receipt dated June 13, 1991, copy in object file, Collections Management Office.

  [3] See note 2.

  [4] See note 2. Also see Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List after 1920 file, Collections Management Office.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Looking Out, Looking In: Art in Late Imperial China (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

  Duveen Brothers Loan Exhibition (January 19 to February 16, 1907)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Mr. O.

  Libbie Moody Thompson (1897-1990)

  Estate of Libbie Moody Thompson

• Origin

  Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, China

• Credit Line

  Bequest of Libbie Moody Thompson

• Type

  Vessel

• On View

  Freer Gallery 13: Looking Out, Looking In: Art in Late Imperial China

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1720s, 1660s

• Name

  Estate of Libbie Moody Thompson, Thompson, Libbie Moody, O.

• Place

  China, Jiangxi province, Jingdezhen

• Topic

  Porcelain, Art, Kangxi reign (1662 - 1722), Chinese Art, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), Ceramics, Jingdezhen ware, Reign mark

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)

• On View

  Yes