Jar with Cover
Tang dynasty (618–906), first half of 8th century
Medium
Earthenware with blue lead glaze
Dimensions
21.1 × 23.4 cm (8 5/16 × 9 3/16 in.); Diam.: 23.4 cm (9 3/16 in.)
Classification
ceramics
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
80880
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
In China, the use of finely ground cobalt blue ore as a colorant for lead glaze originated in the Tang dynasty. Perhaps intending to emulate vibrant blue glass imported from the Middle East, Chinese potters applied this glaze to off-white earthenwares and low-fired stonewares that were intended primarily for burial. The source of Tang cobalt has been subject to ongoing debate. For many years, most scholars assumed that Chinese potters imported cobalt ore from the Middle East. Recent analyses of ...
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...