A bright purple, low basin with vertical lines widely spaced out on the side. The flat, thin top rim protrudes out. The rim curves to mimic large petals. The inside is aqua colored. The four feet on the bottom curl out like leaves.
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profile Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College

A bright purple, low basin 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 and curves to mimic large petals. The inside is aqua colored. There are tan lines along the edges of the rim from thinned glaze. The four, stout feet on the bottom curl out like leaves and are also glazed magenta.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
1942.185.51
Title
Lobed Basin with Bracketed Foliate Rim and Three Cloud Scroll Feet
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/303530

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. 7.2 × W. 23 × D. 22.8 cm (2 13/16 × 9 1/16 × 9 in.)
base: Diam. 14.2 cm (5 9/16 in.)
weight: 1067.9 g
Inscriptions and Marks
  • inscription: inscribed (probably stamped) on base before firing: 三 san (three)

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
1942.185.51
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
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Publication History

  • George J. Lee, "Numbered Chün Ware", Transactions of the Oriental Ceramic Society, Oriental Ceramics Society (London, 1945-1946), Vol. 21, pp. 53-63, n.p., plate 16 (right); plate 18a [detail of glaze]
  • 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
  • Masterpieces of world art : Fogg Art Museum, Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Busch-Reisinger Museum, 1997
  • 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
  • Transformations: Asia East and West, Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, 12/19/1992 - 02/14/1993
  • 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

  • Collection Highlights
  • Jun Ware

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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