Fragment of underglaze cobalt-blue-painted wall tile

Detail of a pattern
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At A Glance

  • Period

    15th-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: 2.8 x 11.2 x 4.2 cm (1 1/8 x 4 7/16 x 1 5/8 in)
  • Accession Number

    FSC-P-430
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_FSC-P-430

Object Details

  • Description

    Shape: Hollow wall-tile fragment, probably architectural. The tile appears to have been thrown in the round on a wheel, with the edge later being carved to echo the outline of the painted design.
    Clay: The body is a very fine clay, light gray in color, having many small and a few large air pockets. There are very few inclusions.
    Glaze: The bubbly, translucent glaze covers the sides and top of the tile and is moderatley crackled. The inside of the hollow tile shows even coverage of the clear glaze.
    Decoration: The body is covered with a milky white slip onto which the greenish-tinged, cobalt-blue decoration has been painted and into which it has suffused. The underglaze cobalt-blue paint is of good quality. The design consists of interlocking oval rings with floral lappets on the outside of the rings.
    Marks: None.
  • Provenance

    To 1957
    Abu Ridho, Jakarta, Indonesia. [1]
    1957
    John A. Pope (1906-1982), Washington DC, gift of Abu Ridho, Jakarta, Indonesia. [2]
    From 1957
    Freer Gallery of Art, gift of John A. Pope, Washington DC [3]
    Notes:
    [1] See Curatorial Remarks 1 and 2 in the object record.
    [2] See note 1.
    [3] See note 1. See also object file, Collections Management Office.
  • Collection

    Freer Study Collection
  • Previous custodian or owner

    Abu Ridho (born 1927)
    Dr. John Alexander Pope (1906-1982)
  • Origin

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

    Gift of John A. Pope
  • Type

    Architectural Element
  • Restrictions and Rights

    Usage Conditions Apply

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