Chinese Glazed Garden Rain Pot, C. 1890

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Description

This 19th-century Chinese rain pot was sculpted by hand with impressive scale and wabi-sabi texture. Ceramic vessels of this scale … Read more This 19th-century Chinese rain pot was sculpted by hand with impressive scale and wabi-sabi texture. Ceramic vessels of this scale had various uses in Chinese culture, used as fish ponds, pickling pots or as receptacles for rain water, kept near the home in case of fire.

The vessel is cloaked inside and out with a beautiful drip glaze that lingers on each imperfection, streaking down the sides with colors ranging from warm browns to blues to inky black. Subtle ridges and indentations throughout suggest the jar was fashioned by coiling flattened ropes of clay and then tapped with a paddle to achieve a faceted texture. Today, the glazed pot lives on as a statement planter or fish pond, ideal indoors or out.

One hairline crack to rim. No drainage holes. See less