thinly potted circular form with steeply rounded sides resting on flat rimless foot; painted black in linear design of concentric rings encircling round "eye" in center with two bands of arcs around the well above and below a central divider of three horizontal lines; everted rim, decorated with multiple "eyes" separated by clusters of oblique lines and one sector of crosshatched lines; exterior painted with three long wavy-line motifs, each ending with a curled-back hook and joining to form a continuous frieze below the rim; burnished overall to a smooth surface

Basin, c. 3000 BCE

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The form of this thin-walled, hand-built basin follows a Banpo type shape of the Yangshao culture that was already in use nearly a thousand years before this vessel was made. The wide rounded bowl has a fairly small flat base and an everted rim with a broad, rounded rim flange. Typical of much Majiayao ware, it is made of yellowish-brown earthenware, extensively painted in overall concentric and spiral patterns. It is exquisitely burnished imparting a rich luster to its interior surface.

Details
Title
Basin
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2003.200.1
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.

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thinly potted circular form with steeply rounded sides resting on flat rimless foot; painted black in linear design of concentric rings encircling round "eye" in center with two bands of arcs around the well above and below a central divider of three horizontal lines; everted rim, decorated with multiple "eyes" separated by clusters of oblique lines and one sector of crosshatched lines; exterior painted with three long wavy-line motifs, each ending with a curled-back hook and joining to form a continuous frieze below the rim; burnished overall to a smooth surface