Jar, round, with decoration of incised geometrical designs in three bands around shoulder and body. Three projecting rings for handles- two on shoulder and one midway between on lower part of body; polished surface, no glaze. Grey earthenware.

Beaker-shaped Vessel, 13th-11th century BCE

Unknown artist, expand_more
On View in Gallery 204expand_more

This handsome wheel-thrown vessel with its raised bosses, taut symmetrical profile and thin walls, suggests a metalware prototype. A Shang innovation was the development of a high-fired clay body that is dense, hard, and impervious to liquid. Near stoneware hardness, these vessels were fired at a relatively high temperature around 1200 degrees C. High-fired ware was a considerable improvement over low-fired earthenware which was porous and permeable and less suitable for prolonged storage.

file_downloadprintshare
arrow_back home
Details
Title
Beaker-shaped Vessel
Role
Artist
Dimension
5 in. (12.7 cm)
Accession Number
34.13.1
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know

Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.

Jar, round, with decoration of incised geometrical designs in three bands around shoulder and body. Three projecting rings for handles- two on shoulder and one midway between on lower part of body; polished surface, no glaze. Grey earthenware.