Jingdezhen kilns
Small Pear-Shaped Vase
1722-1734
Physical Qualities
Porcelain with imitation Longquan-type celadon glaze, 6 1/2 H x 4 Diam. in. (16.5 x 10 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Lawrason Riggs of J
Object Number
1945.59.2
A lime-alkali glaze was used to cover both of these small vases, yet resulted
in different shades of green, due to the type of ceramic body underneath:
gray stoneware in one case and white porcelain in the other. To describe
this soft gray-green color, French writers adopted the name of Celadon,
a character in Honoré d’Urfé’s pastoral novel L’Astrée (1607–1627), who wore
pale green ribbons.
The Baltimore Museum of Art by gift, 1945; Lawrason Riggs of J, Baltimore; from his uncle, General Lawrason Riggs, Baltimore (1861-1940)
Frances Klapthor, Chinese Ceramics, Baltimore: BMA, 1993, no. 119, p. 58.
