Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

The Barlow Collection

A select catalogue of the Barlow collection of Chinese Ceramics, Bronzes and Jades by the University of Sussex (published Sussex, 2006).

The Barlow Collection by the University of Sussex

Publications online: 456 objects

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Figure of a lion scratching its head

  • loan
  • Literature notes

    This figure is highly unusual. Its lively, naturalistic pose is well known from glazed lion figures of the Tang dynasty (AD 618-907), but material and workmanship of this piece suggest a pre-Tang date.

    The lion is shown seated on its haunches, looking upwards, one hind leg raised as if scratching its head. The small head has a naturalistically modelled snout and small ears, the heavy body a deeply incised mane, the front legs have impressive claws, and the tail is ending in three large curls. The animal is resting on a flat, shaped plinth, which is pierced with a hole underneath the hollow figure. The dark grey pottery body is covered with a white dressing and shows traces of a pinkish-red pigment.
  • Details

    Associated place
    Asia China (north) (place of creation)
    Date
    5th - 6th century AD (AD 401 - 600)
    Material and technique
    earthenware, moulded and luted together, painted white, and with incised decoration and traces of red pigment; base, pierced
    Dimensions
    18.4 x 14.1 x 16 cm (height x width x depth)
    Material index
    Technique index
    Object type index
    No. of items
    1
    Credit line
    Lent by the Sir Alan Barlow Collection Trust.
    Accession no.
    LI1301.425
  • Further reading

    University of Sussex, and Arts and Humanities Research Council, The Barlow Collection, supervised by Regina Krahl, Maurice Howard, and Aiden Leeves (Sussex: University of Sussex, 2006), no. S30

Glossary (2)

earthenware, luted

  • earthenware

    Ceramic material made of clay which is fired to a temperature of c.1000-1200⁰c. The resulting ceramic is non-vitreous and varies in colour from dark red to yellow.

  • luted

    The fusion of parts of ceramics using dilute clay slip.

Location

    • currently in research collection

Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.

 

Publications online

  • The Barlow Collection by the University of Sussex

    The Barlow Collection

    This figure is highly unusual. Its lively, naturalistic pose is well known from glazed lion figures of the Tang dynasty (AD 618-907), but material and workmanship of this piece suggest a pre-Tang date.

    The lion is shown seated on its haunches, looking upwards, one hind leg raised as if scratching its head. The small head has a naturalistically modelled snout and small ears, the heavy body a deeply incised mane, the front legs have impressive claws, and the tail is ending in three large curls. The animal is resting on a flat, shaped plinth, which is pierced with a hole underneath the hollow figure. The dark grey pottery body is covered with a white dressing and shows traces of a pinkish-red pigment.
Notice

Object information may not accurately reflect the actual contents of the original publication, since our online objects contain current information held in our collections database. Click on 'buy this publication' to purchase printed versions of our online publications, where available, or contact the Jameel Study Centre to arrange access to books on our collections that are now out of print.

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