New photography by Shannon Ruff captured with a digital camera-2006.

Broad-Shouldered Jar with Decoration of Dragons Pursuing Flaming Pearls

Artist Unknown

CultureChinese | Ming Dynasty | Qing Dynasty

Date17th century

MediumPorcelain | Enamel | Enameled Porcelain | Porcelain with decoration painted in underglaze cobalt blue and overglaze polychrome enamels

DimensionsOverall: 12 7/8 x 2 3/4 in. (32.7 x 7 cm)

Credit LineGift of Dr. James C. Perry in Memory of Nancy Nash Perry

Object number36.8.132

Collections

Asian Art

Not on view

DescriptionLarge high shouldered jar decorated in wu cai or "five color" enamels of yellow, green, red, aubergine and underglaze blue. Two large snarling dragons, one yellow, one aubergine, encircle vessel. Red and green cloud patterns abound with red whirlpool-like areas around feet of dragons. Leaf pattern on neck; white interior; unglazed bottom; no foot rim. Neck broken and repaired, staple marks visible from old repair. Wucai ware (“5-color”).

Published ReferencesSee similar jar in Jenyns, _Later Chinese Porcelain_, Pl. II, fig. 1, p. 20 ("...but some of the patterns such as running horses against a sea of waves occur each side of the border line (of the fall of Ming). Most of these pieces may be placed in the last quarter of the 17th century."