Art Institute of Chicago

Vessel in the Form of a Fantastical Frog

China

Date

Western Jin dynasty (265–316 AD)

Medium

Celadon-glazed stoneware with molded decoration

Culture

China

Department

Arts of Asia

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

The short-lived Western Jin Dynasty witnessed the production of a large quantity of celadon-glazed stoneware with distinctive features. A typical example of celadon ware from this era, this vessel is characterized by a darker-color clay body, greenish-gray glaze, sturdy and rounded profile, and playfully molded and embossed decorations that transform the vessel into a fantastical creature reminiscent of a frog. The motif of the frog appears frequently on small celadon wares during the third and fourth centuries. However, the specific meaning and function of frog-shaped containers remain obscure. Some scholars have suggested that such objects might have been used as water droppers for the scholar’s table, specifically for the purpose of painting and calligraphy.

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