Images(8)

Tea bowl with tortoiseshell decoration

Date13th century

Maker Chinese

Label TextThe tortoiseshell pattern on the exterior was achieved by splashing wood ash or bamboo ash on the surface of the dark glaze before firing. The ash was likewise applied on the interior, except for the areas covered by phoenix-shaped stencils.

Object number36.6

ProvenancePurchased by Emma Stimson, Seattle, Washington, 1936; to Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington, 1936

Photo CreditPhoto: Paul Macapia

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Chinese Art: A Seattle Perspective, Dec. 22, 2007 - July 26, 2009. Tokyo, Japan, Suntory Museum of Art, Luminous Jewels: Masterpieces of Asian Art From the Seattle Art Museum, July 25 - Sept. 6, 2009 (Kobe, Japan, Kobe City Museum, Sept. 19 - Dec. 6, 2009; Kofu, Japan, Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art, Dec. 23, 2009 - Feb. 28, 2010; Atami, Japan, MOA Museum of Art, Mar. 13 - May 9, 2010; Fukuoka, Japan, Fukuoka Art Museum, May 23 - July 19, 2010). Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Luminous: The Art of Asia, Oct. 13, 2011 - Jan. 8, 2012.Published ReferencesKawai, Masatomo, Yasuhiro Nishioka, Yukiko Sirahara, editors, "Luminous Jewels: Masterpieces of Asian Art From the Seattle Art Museum", 2009, The Yomiuri Shimbun, catalogue number 74 Clysdale, Heather Colburn, The International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society, "Journal", Autumn 2008, pg. 11 Fuller, Richard E. "A Gift to the City." Seattle, WA: Seattle Art Museum, 1993, p. 23 "Selected Works." Seattle, WA: Seattle Art Museum, 1991, p. 162 "Handbook, Seattle Art Museum: Selected Works from the Permanent Collections." Seattle, WA: Seattle Art Museum, 1951, p. 68 (b&w)

Credit LineThomas D. Stimson Memorial Collection

DimensionsH: 2 3/4in. (7cm) Diameter (Diam.): 5 1/8in. (13cm)

MediumJizhou ware, stoneware with brown, yellow-brown glazes, and a stenciled decoration