Bowl (Wan)
Unknown Artist
2300–2000 BCE
Medium
Earthenware with pigment
Dimensions
Diam. 9 3/4 in. (24.8 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
China · Neolithic period, Majiayao culture, Machang type
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Charlotte C. and John C. Weber Collection, Gift of Charlotte C. and John C. Weber, 1994
Accession Number
1994.605.129
Art Historical Context
This delicate bowl, known as a *wan*, originates from China's Neolithic period (2300–2000 BCE), specifically the Majiay culture's Machang type the northwest region. Crafted by an artist, it reflects the sophisticated pottery traditions of one of China's earliest farming communities, where vessels like this served both practical daily needs and possibly ritual purposes. Standing at a modest diameter of 9 3/4 inches (24.8 cm), its simple form highlights the ingenuity of prehistoric artisans who shaped earthenware by hand on slow wheels or coils. The medium—earthenware fired at low temperatures ...