An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Jar with Dragon Design1700s
A mythical creature believed to have the power to make rain, the dragon is a prominent symbol of rulers in premodern East Asia. In underglaze cobalt blue, a dragon on this jar is depicted flying through clouds to catch a flaming, wish-granting pearl called a cintamani. In the royal court, the shorter type of dragon jar was used to hold wine, the tall type, such as this one, was for holding a bouquet of flowers.
A mythical creature believed to have the power to make rain, the dragon is a prominent symbol of rulers in pre-modern East Asia, thus the image of dragons was used exclusively for the king's paraphernalia.
porcelain with underglaze blue
Diameter of base: 14.7 cm (5 13/16 in.); Overall: 39.5 cm (15 9/16 in.)
Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund
In a realm where the sky embraces the earth, there exists a mythical creature revered for its remarkable gifts—the dragon. With the ancestral wisdom of East Asia echoing through the ages, this majestic being is not just a serpentine apparition; it embodies the very essence of rulership and serenity, revered by emperors of yore.
Imagine a jar, its surface shimmering in underglaze cobalt blue, a hue reminiscent of deep oceans and twilight skies. Upon this vessel, a dragon coils gracefully, soaring through softly painted clouds, its scales catching the light in a dazzling dance. This is no ordinary beast; it is on a quest for the legendary cintamani—an ethereal pearl said to grant wishes and bring showers of abundance. As the dragon reaches for the cintamani, its fierce determination almost comes alive, an eternal chase that whispers tales of hope and aspiration.
In the royal courts, these jars carried a significance beyond mere decoration. The shorter versions, humble in stature, held wine—a nectar of celebration, an elixir for joyous moments shared among noble hearts. Yet, it is the tall jar, the very one before you, that commands respect. Designed to cradle bouquets of flowers, it transforms the simple act of display into a statement of grace and elegance. Each bloom emerges like a token of reverence, a reminder of nature's beauty intertwined with the rich history of those who wielded power.
Thus, the dragon jar becomes a canvas of stories, a bridge connecting past glories with the dreams of the future. It resonates deeply with those who gaze upon it, inviting us all to embrace the hope, elegance, and wisdom that lie within our reach.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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