Elongated Foliate Dish with Fish and Central Floret
Liao (907–1124) or Jin dynasty (1115–1234), 10th/11th century
Medium
Slip-coated earthenware with three color (sancai) lead glazes
Dimensions
2.6 × 27.5 × 16 cm (1 × 10 13/16 × 6 5/16 in.)
Classification
dish (vessel)
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
118803
Art Historical Context
This exquisite elongated foliate dish, shaped like a stylized leaf,ails from the Liao (907–112) or Jin (1115–1234) dynasty northern China, dating to the 10th or 11 century. Measuring just 2.6 × 27.5 × 16 cm, it served as a practical yet artistic vessel, likely for serving food or displaying delicacies. Adorned with lively fish motifs and a centraloret, its design evokes the natural world, blending functionality with decorative flair in the Arts of Asia collection at the Art Institute of Chicago. Crafted from slip-coated earthenware and glazed in vibrant three-color (sancai) lead glazes—typica...
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...