Jar with Dragon Design
Unknown Artist
1700s
Medium
porcelain with underglaze blue
Dimensions
{"diameter of base":{"width":0.147},"overall":{"height":0.395},"diameter of mouth":{"width":0.156},"outer diameter":{"width":0.299},"height of mouth":{"height":0.017}}
Classification
Ceramic
Department
Korean Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund
Accession Number
1986.85
About this artwork
A mythical creature believed to have the power to make rain, the dragon is a prominent symbol of rulers in premodern East Asia. In underglaze cobalt blue, a dragon on this jar is depicted flying through clouds to catch a flaming, wish-granting pearl called a cintamani. In the royal court, the shorter type of dragon jar was used to hold wine, the tall type, such as this one, was for holding a bouquet of flowers.