Covered Jar (lid)
Unknown Artist
early 700s
Medium
glazed earthenware
Dimensions
h. 14.4 cm · diameter of lid 11.5 cm
Classification
Ceramic
Department
Chinese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
Accession Number
1948.228.b
About this artwork
This covered cylindrical jar with three animal feet is lavishly covered with a cobalt blue glaze in the exterior and an amber glaze in the interior. Of the colored lead glazes of sancai (three-color) ware, blue was preeminent and precious. Imported cobalt from Persia (Iran, Afghanistan) was used as a glaze colorant that yields a rich, brilliant blue of considerable splendor.