Cleveland Museum of Art

Cloud-Collar Pillow with Waves

Date

1000s–1100s

Medium

glazed porcelain with incised and carved decoration

Culture

China, Jiangxi Province, Northern Song dynasty (960–1127)

Department

Chinese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

This ceramic pillow in the form of a cloud—a design pattern variously referred to as ruyi , the shape of a head of an auspicious scepter—is a fine example of qingbai ware from Jiangxi province. It has a pure white body covered with a transparent, glassy glaze that carries a faint greenish tinge, thus giving it another name, yingqing , or "shadow blue." On the surface of the pillow is a carved and incised design of repeating wave patterns. The beauty of this piece lies in its elegance of form, simplicity of design, and delicacy of workmanship. While ceramic might not be your choice for a pillow, it actually kept the user cool as they slept.

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