
Collection Online as of September 29, 2023
Glazed porcelain with incised and carved decoration
Overall: 10 x 17.5 x 13.4 cm (3 15/16 x 6 7/8 x 5 1/4 in.)
Gift of various donors to the department of Asian Art (by exchange) 2003.88
238 Chinese Ceramics
While ceramic might not be your choice for a pillow, it actually kept the user cool as they slept.
This ceramic pillow in the form of a cloud–a design pattern variously referred to as ruyi, the shape of a head of an auspicious scepter–is a fine example of qingbai ware from Jiangxi province. It has a pure white body covered with a transparent, glassy glaze that carries a faint greenish tinge, thus giving its another name yingqing, or "shadow blue". On the surface of the pillow is a carved and incised design of repeating wave patterns. The beauty of this piece lies in its elegance of form, simplicity of design, and delicacy of workmanship.