遼 綠釉瓷龍首|Dragon head with open mouth

Unknown Artist

遼 綠釉瓷龍首|Dragon head with open mouth by Unknown Artist

Medium

Stoneware with colored glazes

Dimensions

H. 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm); L. 6 7/8 in. (17.5 cm)

Classification

Ceramics

Culture & Period

China · Liao dynasty (907–1125)

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

1994.605.49

Tags

Dragons

Art Historical Context

This exquisite dragon head, crafted during China's Liao dynasty (907–5), captures the fierce of one of the most revered symbols in East Asian culture. Measuring just 4¾ inches high and 6⅞ inches long, this stoneware piece features an open-mouthed dragon with vivid green glaze, evoking the mythical beast's raw power and vitality. Produced by an unknown artisan, it hails from the Khitan-led Liao empire, a period blending nomadic traditions with sophisticated Chinese influences in the north. Liao ceramics are celebrated for their innovative use of colored glazes over stoneware, often in dynamic ...

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