Cloud-Collar Pillow with Waves

Description

This ceramic pillow in the form of a cloud—a design pattern variously referred to as ruyi, the shape of a head of an auspicious scepter—is a fine example of qingbai ware from Jiangxi province. It has a pure white body covered with a transparent, glassy glaze that carries a faint greenish tinge, thus giving it another name, yingqing, or "shadow blue." On the surface of the pillow is a carved and incised design of repeating wave patterns. The beauty of this piece lies in its elegance of form, simplicity of design, and delicacy of workmanship.

Provenance

Koki Kawazoe; (Uragami Sokyu-do Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art) (?–2003); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (2003–)

Cloud-Collar Pillow with Waves

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1000s-1100s

Accession Number

2003.88

Medium

glazed porcelain with incised and carved decoration

Dimensions

Overall: 10 x 17.5 x 13.4 cm (3 15/16 x 6 7/8 x 5 1/4 in.)

Classification

Ceramic

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

Gift of various donors to the department of Asian Art (by exchange)