red-orange bowl with tan accretions overall

Bowl, c. 4500 BCE

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Banpo type Earthenwareexpand_more

Gift of Ruth and Bruce Daytonexpand_more  2003.140.4

The Yangshao culture (c. 5000-3000 BCE) located in the middle region of the Yellow River (Huang he) was at its zenith in the fifth millenium BCE. A complex neolithic settlement was discovered at the village of Banpo near Xi'an in Shanxi province which became the namesake to a whole range of ceramic artifacts made in this region. Banpo phase (4800-4300 BCE) pottery is rich in shapes and decorative techniques including painting.

The beauty of this relatively plain bowl, however, is based on its fine, even potting and well-proportioned profile. Thin walled and perfectly hemispherical in shape, this elegant vessel exemplifies the highest standard of hand-built ceramic production. Evidence from excavation sites around Banpo suggests that large bowls such as this were sometimes used as lids to funerary urns.

Details
Title
Bowl
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2003.140.4
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.

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red-orange bowl with tan accretions overall