Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Pillow in the Shape of a Lion
(China )
During the Song dynasty (960–1279), objects for daily use in both the imperial palace and ordinary homes, including pillows, were commonly ceramic. Sleeping on a hard ceramic pillow may not seem as comfortable as a soft stuffed pillow, however, ceramic pillows were believed to encourage a better sleeping position for the body. Additionally, sleeping on a hard pillow helped to maintain intricate hairstyles worn by women of the upper and middle classes during the Song.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Dr. John C. Ferguson Collection Sale, American Art Association, New York, April 7, 1916, no. 143; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1916, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Exhibitions
| 1980-1981 | Masterpieces of Chinese Porcelain. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. |
Geographies
China, Hebei (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 5 5/16 × W: 11 5/8 × D: 5 7/8 in. (13.5 × 29.6 × 15 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters, 1916
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.
49.1732