<em>Ewer (Zhihu)</em>, 1279–1368. Porcelain with copper-red underglaze design, 11 7/16 x 8 1/4 in. (29 x 21 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The William E. Hutchins Collection, Bequest of Augustus S. Hutchins, 52.132. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 52.132_PS6.jpg)

Ewer (Zhihu), 1279–1368. Porcelain with copper-red underglaze design, 11 7/16 x 8 1/4 in. (29 x 21 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The William E. Hutchins Collection, Bequest of Augustus S. Hutchins, 52.132. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 52.132_PS6.jpg)

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Ewer (Zhihu)

Asian Art

On View: Asian Galleries, West, 2nd floor (China)

Painting porcelain in underglaze red using copper-oxide pigment was introduced in the imperial kilns at Jingdezhen during the Yuan dynasty and continued into the early Ming. In this early period, use of the pigment was still experimental, and the fired copper would often create a color more gray than bright red. The taste for underglaze red in the Hongwu period was in part a result of the lack of imported cobalt at this time. The overall shape of the vessel, as well as details such as the raised vertical rib down the handle and the three studs at its base, refers to metal prototypes from the Middle East or Central Asia, and the scrolling pattern of the painted decoration is common in Islamic art.

MEDIUM Porcelain with copper-red underglaze design

Place Made: Jiangxi, China

DATES 1279–1368

DYNASTY Yuan Dynasty (possibly early Ming Dynasty)

PERIOD Yuan Dynasty

DIMENSIONS 11 7/16 x 8 1/4 in. (29 x 21 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Asian Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 52.132

CREDIT LINE The William E. Hutchins Collection, Bequest of Augustus S. Hutchins

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Lipped mouth; constricted neck; gall-bladder shaped belly; circular foot; long spout; neck and spout has a linked cloud-shaped piece; curved handle; cover has a small knob; below handle is pattern of 3 coins. Copper-red underglaze painting: 1. fret-scroll (hui wen); 2. banana leaf pattern; 3. fret-scroll (hui wen); 4. interlocking camellia; 5. cloud head scrolls on shoulders; 6. interlocking peony flowers; 7. changing lotus petals pattern; 8. curving grass pattern. Besides unglazed lower sections of circular foot, slight blue-green clear glaze on entire vessel. Daily used ware. Condition: Basically intact. Repaired spout.

EXHIBITIONS

Arts of China

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Asian Galleries, West, 2nd floor (China)

CAPTION Ewer (Zhihu), 1279–1368. Porcelain with copper-red underglaze design, 11 7/16 x 8 1/4 in. (29 x 21 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The William E. Hutchins Collection, Bequest of Augustus S. Hutchins, 52.132. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 52.132_PS6.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 52.132_PS6.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2013

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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