Pair of "Sun Moon" Funerary Vases,

13th–14th centuries

Pair of "Sun Moon" Funerary Vases

13th–14th centuries

Porcelain with blue-green glaze and appliqué designs

.1 a-b (sun): h. 79.0 cm., diam. 18.1 cm. (31 1/8 x 7 1/8 in.) .2 a-b (moon): h. 78.8 cm., diam. 18.2 cm. (31 x 7 3/16 in.)

Gift of Nelson Chang, Class of 1974, on the occasion of the 25th Reunion of the Class of 1974

1998-44.1-.2

Asia, China

Each vase is supported on a splayed foot. The pair of vases are grooved from the lower ovoid portion of the bodies to the long cylindrical necks. The necks are decorated with numerous applied figures, animals, and clouds, and are surmounted by bulging toruses with a "piecrust" edge. The conical covers are topped with large birds. The moon vase is applied on the neck with an unglazed disk carved with the character yue (moon) supported on a cloud swirl. A spotted tiger winds around the midsection among applied clouds and vapor trails. A small dog stands on a ledge next to another ledge with a prostrate figure with raised head wearing an official's cap all above twelve, standing robed figures. The sun vase is decorated with a painted disk carved with the character ri (sun), a scaly dragon entwined around the neck amid clouds above the snake-entwined figure of the Black Tortoise of the North, the Red Bird of the South, and a prostrate official with lowered head, and all above a ring of twelve, standing robed figures. Both vases are covered with a clear crackled glaze of greenish tint that falls in drips toward the base revealing the white ware in places. The glaze on the lids have a more yellowish tint corresponding to the glaze color near the bottom of the vases, indicating they were fired at the same level in the kiln.

Chinese

Song, Yüan

ceramics, urns, vases

glaze, appliqué, porcelain

officers (administrators), dogs, dragons, iconography, tigers, birds, figures (representations), moons, suns, turtles