ancient-art-wishlist

[ancient-art-wishlist]

~ Dog Effigy.

Culture: Colima

Date: 100 B.C.-A.D. 300

Medium: Earthenware, red slip with black paint.

[ancient-art-wishlist]

Holy shit.

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Hedgehog-shaped jar, Neolithic period (3500-3000 BCE)

Courtesy Alain Truong

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Look, if you're having a bad day, here's a 6,000 year old pig-shaped pottery pot.

[ancient-art-wishlist]

Yatagan mounted with silver and red coral, walrus ivory hilt, Turkey, 19th century

from Czerny's International Auction House

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Wine Jar

China, 1521-1566

The Walters Art Museum

“This extraordinary Chinese porcelain wine jar was made at the Jingdezhen [Ching-te Chen] kilns during the reign of the Jiajing [Chia-ching] emperor (1522-1566). Its body is white porcelain with blue underglaze decoration. To this, potters added an additional layer of colored enamels, resulting in this bright, festive design of golden carp and lotuses. This design and its associations with both fertility and good fortune suggest that this jar was made for a young, affluent couple to celebrate their marriage. Like many of the Asian objects acquired by Henry Walters, this jar is a world-renowned treasure. It is one of only nine known jars of this type in museum collections worldwide. Among this small group of similar objects, this jar is widely held to be one of the most beautifully painted and well preserved.”

[ancient-art-wishlist]

Washstand

China, 1550-1620

The Victoria & Albert Museum

“Towel rails and washbasin stands were integral components of the bedroom furnishings of the wealthy upper classes in China, for whom washing was a daily habit.

Ming illustrations show that a brass basin was placed on the stand and filled with water for washing and the towels were hung on the towel rack after use and possibly between uses.

Basin holders and towel racks were made both as individual pieces of furniture as well as in combination, as one piece of furniture able to function in both roles such as this example.

The basin stand and towel rack were placed to one side of the bed in a typical bedroom arrangement. This stand is very light and easy to move around.”

[ancient-art-wishlist]

Bed

China, 16th century

The Philadelphia Museum of Art

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Bottle with Lotuses

China, late 15th century

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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Goblet in the Shape of a Bouquet of Flowers

China, 1600

The Asian Art Museum

“Rhinoceros horn cups are judged on the basis of age, quality of carving, color, and the amount of material utilized to create them. Because they are less practical to use and display, and because they require the entire horn, cups in the shape of the original rhinoceros horn are of greatest rarity. In this example, the tapered point of the horn serves as a base or long handle while the top forms a cup. The general theme is an immortal paradise. Depicted on the handle, starting from the bottom upward, are ocean rocks among waves; a crane with wings spread standing on a large rock; and deer exploring rocks. Flying cranes within plum, peach, and camellia branches are depicted in high relief around the cup. A representation of a bronze temple bell is carved on one side." 

[ancient-art-wishlist]

Tray

China, Ming Dynasty

The Minneapolis Institute of Art

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Temple Vase

China, 1488-1505

The British Museum

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Chair

China, 1500-1560

The Victoria & Albert Museum

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Pipa

China, late 15th-early 16th century

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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Side Table

China, 15th century

The Asian Art Museum

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Jar

China, mid-15th century

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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Axe

China, 1300-1200 BC

The Smothsonian Museum of Asian Art