An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Jar with Lion-Head Handles1300s
Appreciated for its strong profile, brilliant blue color, and firm delineation of the decorative patterns, this jar is a classic example of Yuan dynasty blue-and-white ware. This type of ware was produced no later than the 1330s for both domestic use (the court and common people alike) and overseas trade. This example testifies to the transmission of artistic ideas and techniques between China and the rest of the great Mongol Empire as a result of trade. The cobalt that was used for the blue underglaze decoration was imported from Iran, likely from Kashan. The band of cloud-collar motifs with phoenixes set against floral grounds, as shown here, is an artistic vocabulary that can also be found in Iranian decorative arts of the Ilkhanid period (1256–1353).
The characters for "palace" and "south" are scratched into the white glaze on the vessel's shoulder, suggesting that it was once kept in a specific location in a palace.
porcelain with underglaze painted decoration
Diameter of mouth: 15.6 cm (6 1/8 in.); Overall: 39.4 x 37.5 cm (15 1/2 x 14 3/4 in.)
John L. Severance Fund
In a quiet corner of an ancient workshop, a craftsman sits hunched over his latest masterpiece, a jar that seems to pulse with life. Its profile, strong and commanding, offers a gentle invitation, while the brilliant blue hue wraps around it like the sky after a spring rain. The delicate patterns of clouds and mythical phoenixes swirl and dance across the surface, capturing the essence of beauty within their intricate designs.
This jar belongs to a rich tradition of Yuan dynasty blue-and-white ware, an art form that blossomed during a time when the world was interconnected in ways previously unseen. By the 1330s, vessels like this one were not merely domestic items gracing the tables of courts or common homes; they were also treasures that ventured far across oceans, bridging cultures and people through trade.
As the craftsman dreams of distant lands, the cobalt blue—imported all the way from Iran, perhaps from the bustling city of Kashan—finds its way into his paintbrush. Each stroke carries a story, whispering of caravans crawling across deserts, of merchant ships cutting through waves, and of artisans exchanging ideas in a vibrant mosaic of creativity.
The motifs swirling across this jar are not just decorations; they speak a language shared by cultures. The band of cloud-collar designs, mingling with the regal phoenixes, echoes the art of the Ilkhanid period, which flourished in Iran centuries before. Each brushstroke is a link to another time and place, uniting the realms of East and West through the shared love of artistry.
Thus, this exquisite jar is not just a utilitarian object; it is a keeper of stories, a vessel of history that celebrates the rich tapestry woven by trade and creativity throughout the sprawling corridors of the Mongol Empire. In every curve and color, it tells of a world where boundaries faded, and beauty knew no limits.
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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