PAGODA RED Ceramics

In addition to tea leaves, water, and heat, the art of drinking tea (chayi) calls for a variety of teaware and utensils - both practical and decorative. This petite ceramic ewer date...

An everyday example of Chinese blue-and-white porcelain, this 19th-century porcelain plate charms with expressive cobalt-blue decoration, sparsely brushed against a blue-grey field. ...

These petite Japanese dishes are patterned with a bright, cobalt blue design of flowers and leaves, arranged to form a large, five-petal plum or cherry blossom. A type of porcelain w...

Tea drinking has been an integral part of Chinese culture for centuries, resulting in a wide range of social customs and material traditions. In addition to tea leaves, water, and he...

During the 18th century, Europeans provided an eager market for Chinese export porcelain, especially the colorful and fanciful ware known as “famille rose.” Named for a palette of op...

During the 18th century, Europeans provided an eager market for Chinese export porcelain, especially the colorful and fanciful ware known as “famille rose.” Named for a palette of op...

An opaque black glaze coats the body of this small early 20th-century kitchen jar. As evidenced by the glazed interior, the jar was once used daily in a Qing-dynasty kitchen for ferm...

A mixture of finely powdered tobacco, herbs, and spices, snuff was introduced to China in the 17th century by Western diplomats. Initially reserved for ranking members of Qing-dynasty society, the practice provided an opportunity to display one's refined aesthetic through collectible snuff bottles. This decorative snuff bottle has a simple ceramic form and a colorful finish of overglaze enamels atop white glaze. The bottle has an oval shape, with flattened sides and rounded edges. The shoulders are accented with a door knocker motif and the sides are painted with birds amid plum blossom...

This large ceramic block is actually a form of Chinese headrest or neck pillow. Popular during the Qing dynasty, rigid headrests such as this were used by upper-class women to protect their elaborate hairstyles by elevating the head during slumber. This example dates to the early 20th century and is glazed in the blue-and-white style with rich, cobalt-blue color. The headrest is decorated on all sides with mythical fu lion dogs playing with ribbon-tied brocade balls, a motif that evokes the idiom "may you and your descendant achieve high rank." A powerful and benevolent guardian, the fu lion (shizi) is the perfect force to protect against nightmares and bad energy. A geometric meander trims the corners and small dragon-like bats frame coin...