Artwork Page for Pair of Owl-shaped Jars

Details / Information for Pair of Owl-shaped Jars

Pair of Owl-shaped Jars

206 BCE–9 CE

China, Henan province, Western Han dynasty

(206 BCE–8 CE)
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Medium
Amber-brown glazed low-fired pottery
Measurements
Overall: 19 x 13.8 x 11.8 cm (7 1/2 x 5 7/16 x 4 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Nancy F. and Joseph P. Keithley Collection Gift 2020.178
Public Domain
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Location
241B Arts of Ancient China
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Did You Know?

Each jar cover is modeled in the shape of an owl's head.

Description

Pottery vessels in the shape of owls were made since Neolithic times and throughout the Bronze age. These jars in the form of vigilant owls may have provided a tomb occupant with grain in the afterlife. However, the meaning of these mysterious birds and the association of the owl motif with burial sites in China is not fully understood.
A pair of amber-brown glazed pottery jars shaped like owls feature rounded bodies with impressed wing scales. Their removable, unglazed tan heads have large circular eyes and pointed beaks. A ring of red pigment marks the neck where the lid joins the body. One owl faces forward, while the other turns its head toward the viewer. The surfaces have a weathered, mottled appearance, ranging from deep amber to a chalky tan.

Pair of Owl-shaped Jars

206 BCE–9 CE

China, Henan province, Western Han dynasty (206 BCE–8 CE)

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