Cleveland Museum of Art

Amphora Vase

Date

1723–35

Medium

porcelain with celadon glaze

Culture

China, Jiangxi province, Jingdezhen, Qing dynasty (1644-1911), Yongzheng mark and period (1723-35)

Department

Chinese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This elegant vase, modeled in the shape of an amphora with dragon handles has perfect symmetry. Its celadon glaze is of exceptional purity and of subtle green color, all characteristics of classical Yongzheng-era monochrome porcelains. The amphora shape and dragon handles of this vase, seen earlier in the glazed stoneware of the Sui and Tang dynasties (581-907), were revived during the Yongzheng period for achieving "antique-elegance" ( guya ) in aesthetics as well as technical perfection in ceramic art. Only four vases of this size and glaze are known to exist. The shape of the vase derives from Greece and was introduced to China via the Middle East.

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