Vase with Phoenix-Shaped Ears
Asian Art
On View: Asian Galleries, West, 2nd floor (China)
This elegant vase represents the aesthetics of the Confucian elite in Song-dynasty China, reflecting values of balance, symmetry, and rectitude. During the Southern Song period, the imperial court was in exile in the southern capital of Hangzhou, after having lost political control of northern China. The celadon color of this vessel’s glaze nostalgically refers to the ancient bronzes and jades prominent in ancestral rituals in the Shang (circa 1600–1050 B.C.E.) and Zhou (circa 1050–256 B.C.E.) dynasties, perceived by the Song elite as a golden era. The gold lacquer on the handle shows that the vessel was most likely repaired in Japan, where celadons were also prized.
MEDIUM
High-fired green ware (celadon)
DATES
1127â1279
DYNASTY
Southern Song Dynasty
PERIOD
Southern Song Dynasty
DIMENSIONS
10 7/8 x 4 1/2 in. (27.7 x 11.5 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Asian Art
ACCESSION NUMBER
37.131
CREDIT LINE
By exchange
PROVENANCE
Prior to 1937, provenance not yet documented; by 1937, acquired by Yamanaka & Co., New York, NY; March 1937, purchased from Yamanaka & Co. by the Brooklyn Museum, by exchange.
Provenance FAQ
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is on view in Asian Galleries, West, 2nd floor (China)
CAPTION
Vase with Phoenix-Shaped Ears, 1127â1279. High-fired green ware (celadon), 10 7/8 x 4 1/2 in. (27.7 x 11.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 37.131. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 37.131_PS9.jpg)
IMAGE
37.131_PS9.jpg.
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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