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

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

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White ware vase with lotus decoration and taotie mask handles

  • loan

Glossary (5)

glaze, luted, porcelain, slip, taotie

  • glaze

    Vitreous coating applied to the surface of a ceramic to make it impermeable or for decorative effect.

  • luted

    The fusion of parts of ceramics using dilute clay slip.

  • porcelain

    Ceramic material composed of kaolin, quartz, and feldspar which is fired to a temperature of c.1350-1400⁰c. The resulting ceramic is vitreous, translucent, and white in colour.

  • slip

    A semi-fluid clay applied to a ceramic before glazing either to coat the surface or for decorative effect.

  • taotie

    Stylized monster mask decoration with prominent eyes and scrolling horns. The motif has been known since the 1100s. Its significance remains mysterious.

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

    The two vases are identically made, with pear-shaped body, tall flaring neck and trumpet-shaped foot with ogee-shaped profile. The neck and body show distinct luting lines, and the central area is decorated in moulded relief. The body shows two lotus-scroll bands on a stippled ground, with naturalistically rendered blooms and leaves, enclosed between bands of double petals both above and below. Those above are further applied with two animal-mask ring handles, rendered with protruding eyes, striped eyebrows and pearl-beaded features. The glaze is of clear, light blue tone, the lowest part and the underside of the foot are left in the biscuit, which has fired a light brownish colour and appears to have been covered by a white slip.

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