A bright purple ceramic flower pot with vertical lines widely spaced out on the side. The inside is aqua colored. The flat, thin top rim protrudes out. The rim curves to mimic large petals.
profile Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
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profile Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College

A bright purple ceramic flower pot stands on a grey background and is shown at its side. On the sides are vertical lines widely spaced out. The flat, thin top rim protrudes out. The rim curves to mimic large petals. The inside is aqua colored. Tan lines are along the top edges from thinned glaze. The piece has a small foot.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
1942.185.5
Title
Lobed Flowerpot with Bracketed Foliate Rim
Classification
Vessels
Work Type
vessel
Date
probably 15th century
Places
Creation Place: East Asia, China, Henan province
Period
Ming dynasty, 1368-1644
Culture
Chinese
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/205669

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Numbered Jun ware: light gray stoneware with variegated purple and blue glaze; with Chinese numeral 3 (san) inscribed on base before firing
Technique
Jun
Dimensions
max.: H. 18 × W. 26.2 × D. 26.1 cm (7 1/16 × 10 5/16 × 10 1/4 in.)
base: W. 12.7 × D. 12.7 cm (5 × 5 in.)
weight: 2403.4 g
Inscriptions and Marks
  • inscription: inscribed (probably incised) on base before firing: 三 san (three)
  • label: affixed to base, with brush-written Chinese characters: 超紫 chaozi (exceedingly purple)

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
Ernest B. and Helen Pratt Dane, Brookline, MA (by 1942), gift; to Fogg Art Museum, 1942.

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Ernest B. and Helen Pratt Dane
Accession Year
1942
Object Number
1942.185.5
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Publication History

  • James Cuno, Alvin L. Clark, Jr., Ivan Gaskell, and William W. Robinson, Harvard's Art Museums: 100 Years of Collecting, ed. James Cuno, Harvard University Art Museums and Harry N. Abrams, Inc. (Cambridge, MA, 1996), pp. 58-59
  • Stephan Wolohojian and Alvin L. Clark, Jr., Harvard Art Museum/ Handbook, ed. Stephan Wolohojian, Harvard Art Museum (Cambridge, 2008), p. 55
  • Rose Kerr, Dazzling Official Jun Wares: From Museums and Collections Around the World, ACC Art Books (Hong Kong, 2021), pp. 176-177, no. 111

Exhibition History

  • Later Chinese and Japanese Figure Painting in Decorative Arts, Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Cambridge, 02/22/1992 - 06/07/1992
  • Rocks, Mountains, Landscapes and Gardens: The Essence of East Asian Painting ('04), Harvard University Art Museums, Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Cambridge, 01/31/2004 - 08/01/2004
  • A Compelling Legacy: Masterworks of East Asian Painting, Harvard University Art Museums, Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Cambridge, 08/24/2004 - 03/20/2005
  • Forging the New: East Asian Painting in the Twentieth Century, Harvard University Art Museums, Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Cambridge, 05/03/2005 - 10/16/2005
  • Downtime, Harvard University Art Museums, Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Cambridge, 04/28/2007 - 04/20/2008
  • Re-View: S228-230 Arts of Asia, Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Cambridge, 05/31/2008 - 06/01/2013
  • Re-View: S228-230 (Asian rotation: 6), Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Cambridge, 05/24/2011 - 11/12/2011
  • 32Q: 2600 East Asian, Japanese, Chinese and Korean, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 11/16/2014 - 05/31/2015; Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 06/04/2015 - 11/29/2015; Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 12/07/2017 - 06/01/2018
  • Adorning the Inner Court: Jun Ware for the Chinese Palace, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 05/20/2017 - 08/13/2017

Subjects and Contexts

  • Google Art Project
  • Jun Ware
  • Collection Highlights

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Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu