Water Jar with Dragons
(China )
Jars of this type were once used as water pots on a writing desk by scholars. The rounded crisp mouth is a functional design which assists in removing excess water from a brush. Cobalt blue paintings on the white porcelain body depict a three clawed dragon consuming floating sacred fungi lingzhi, believed to ensure long life and used as a symbol for immortality. A mark for good luck inscribed on the foot of the pot reads "precious jade treasure".
Inscription
marked: "precious jade treasure"
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
Acquired by William T. or Henry Walters, Baltimore; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.
Exhibitions
1980-1981 | Masterpieces of Chinese Porcelain. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
Geographies
China (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 2 3/16 × Diam: 2 5/8 in. (5.6 × 6.7 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by William T. or Henry Walters
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
49.902