Spanning centuries and regions, this exhibit explores the artistry and cultural significance of Asian pottery. Whether functional forms of early earthenware or the subtle beauty of the celadon-glazed pottery, these pieces reflect the daily life, trade networks, and beliefs of their creators and consumers. Consisting of objects from China, Vietnam, and broader Asia, Clay Across Cultures invites you to see how a shared medium, clay, can have varying forms of identity, values, and relationships over time and place.

11th-16th century

China and Asia

While some ceramics were intended for decorative or ritual use, the majority, including these jars and jarlets, were household containers for oils, spices, and medicinal herbs, as well as food. Even domestic items, in most instances, carried subtle adornments or glazing, uniting utility and beauty together. These were also symbolic: curves suggested abundance, and certain colors or motifs were believed to produce health. Collectively, these ceramics not only exhibit practical needs, but also the cultural values of daily life in early Chinese society and neighboring regions.

Jilin Province, China

11th-14th century

Earthenware

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China, Ming Dynasty

15th-16th century

Ceramic Stoneware

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China, Ming Dynasty

15th-16th century

Ceramic Stoneware

2020.01.070 Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology

14th-15th century

Asia (China and Broader Regions)

Celadon ceramics, with their stunning cool glazed, were among the most sought-after exports from East and Southeast Asia. Their jade-like glaze, obtained through a reduction firing in extremely hot kilns, symbolized purity, serenity, and elegance in many societies. While it was first mastered within China, they later spread to Korea, Vietnam, among other places, indicating an extensive exchange network and shared aesthetic ideals. Not only were the vessels utilized for practical reasons, but they were also imbued with deep meaning in ritual and funeral contexts.

Asia

14th-15th century

Celadon Glazed Ceramic

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Fujian Province, China

14th-15th century

Celadon Glazed Ceramic

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Vietnam

16th century

Celadon Glazed Ceramic

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Asia

14th-15th century

Celadon Glazed Ceramic

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15th-16th century

Vietnam

During the Lê Dynasty, Vietnamese ceramics thrived, with coastal kilns becoming centers of innovation and trade. These jarlets, widely exported across Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean world, reflect a blend of Chinese influence and regional identity. Floral motifs symbolized renewal, beauty, and the natural world, while the peacock feather design ---often associated with nobility and protection--- added layers of meaning. These decorative elements, paired with practical forms, reveal how everyday vessels also conveyed cultural values and artistic expression.

Vietnam

14th-16th century

Ceramic

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Vietnam

14th-16th century Ceramic

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Vietnam

15th-16th century

Ceramic

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1506-1521 & 19th century

China

Porcelain represents the pinnacle of Chinese ceramics, perfected over centuries by master potters. These pieces, crafted nearly 300 years apart, show the lasting excellence and versatility of Chinese kilns. The 16th-century urn, possibly used for storage or ritual, features decorative motifs symbolizing protection and prosperity. The 19th-century oil lamp may naturally be tied to ideas of wisdom or guidance in Chinese culture. Together, these objects reflect how porcelain has been a lasting symbol of refined elegance.

China

19th century

Porcelain

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Fujian Province, China

1506-1521

Glazed Porcelain

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China

18th century

Ceramic/Stoneware

This robust jar features a dragon soaring through clouds, an enduring symbol of power and protection in Asian traditions. Five lug handles circle the raised neck, blending utility with elegant form. Used to store liquids like water or oil, the jar's adornments and bold imagery reflect its dual role as a practical container and a vessel of cultural meaning. Widely traded, Martaban jars were prized across Asia for their durability and symbolic design

Donated by Melvin and Sylvia Epp

2020.01.094 Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology