Pilgrim Flask (Bian Hu)
Sui (581–618) or early Tang dynasty (618–907), c. late 6th/7th century
Medium
Stoneware with mold-impressed decoration under yellowish-brown lead glaze
Dimensions
24.1 × 20.4 × 12.2 cm (9 1/2 × 8 × 4 13/16 in.)
Classification
earthenware
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
12183
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The flat sides of this canteen-shaped container depict a youthful dancer and a musician who perform above a pair of romping lions. In their costumes and facial features, these performers resemble figures depicted in ancient Hellenistic art. The clarity of their features is partially obscured by a thickly applied glaze, as well as by the dense background of undulating foliage, floral heads, and grapevines. Some of these designs clearly derive from Central Asian metalwork. They may have been trans...
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...