Conical Bowl with Blossoming Plum
Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279)
Medium
Jizhou ware; glazed light gray stoneware with reserved papercut decoration
Dimensions
5.6 × 17.8 cm (2 3/16 × 7 in.); Diam.: 17.8 cm (7 in.)
Classification
bowl
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
51432
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This bowl’s striking, variegated blue hue was created accidentally during firing, when the iron-rich glaze chemically reacted with a mixture of wood or bamboo ash that was applied to its surface. The original dark brown hue is preserved in the more thinly coated rim and in the hauntingly delicate pattern of blossoming plum that was applied in resist by a stencil of cut paper. As the first flower to bloom in late winter, the plum blossom was associated with beauty, renewal, and fortitude, and bec...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...