On view
Asian Art
Huo Pavilion
Huo Pavilion
Bottle,
late 10th century
Chinese
Liao dynasty, 907–1125
y1966-3
The fragments of this reconstructed white porcelain bottle were recovered in 1965 from an undisturbed waste pit in present-day Cairo, within the area of Fustat, the first capital of Egypt under Muslim rule. The ceramic material and the shape of the vessel link it to Ding ware porcelain kilns of the Liao dynasty found near Beijing and in Liaoning province in northern China.This example of off-white glazed porcelain is a rarity; most Chinese ceramic materials recovered at Fustat consist of green-glazed stoneware fragments. It is possible that this bottle traveled overland to Egypt along the Liao-dominated Silk Roads or via illicit maritime trade routes.
More Context
Handbook Entry
The fragments of this reconstructed white porcelain bottle were recovered in 1965 from an undisturbed waste pit in Fustat (now Cairo), Egypt. In material and style, the bottle is comparable to Ding kiln-type porcelains of the Liao dynasty found in areas near Beijing and Liaoning province in northern China. Among numerous Chinese green-glazed stoneware fragments also recovered at Fustat, this porcelain example is a rarity. It is possible that this bottle traveled overland to Egypt along the Liao-dominated Silk Route. It also may have traveled via illicit Liao-Song trade to finally reach Egypt along established Song dynasty maritime trade routes.
Information
Title
Bottle
Dates
late 10th century
Medium
Ding 定 ware; oyster-white glaze over grayish-white porcelain
Dimensions
h. 26.1 × diam. 16 cm (10 1/4 × 6 5/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of the American Research Center in Egypt through the courtesy of the Department of Antiquities of the United Arab Republic
Object Number
y1966-3
Place Made
Asia, China
Place Excavated
Egypt, Fustat B
Culture
Period
Subject
Excavated at Fustat in 1964; given to the Museum by the American Research Center in Egypt in 1965 courtesy of the Department of Antiquities of the United Arab Republic.
