Han Vase
Place of Origin
Culture/Period
Date From
25
Date To
220
Height (cm)
12.8
Width (cm)
11.7
Credit Line
Accession Number
HKU.C.1953.0069
Description
One of the most common types of vessels found in Han tombs, this rounded storage jar (hu) would have been used to hold offerings of wine.
Lead glazes in shades of green and brown became popular in the Han dynasty as a way to make earthenware non-porous. Glazing also had the effect of imitating the appearance of more expensive bronze vessels, which had been a staple of tomb furnishings since the Shang dynasty (ca. 1600–1046 BCE). The characteristic iridescence of such objects results from their exposure to moisture in damp tombs.
Lead glazes in shades of green and brown became popular in the Han dynasty as a way to make earthenware non-porous. Glazing also had the effect of imitating the appearance of more expensive bronze vessels, which had been a staple of tomb furnishings since the Shang dynasty (ca. 1600–1046 BCE). The characteristic iridescence of such objects results from their exposure to moisture in damp tombs.
Citation
“Han Vase,” 3D Objects at UMAG, accessed May 3, 2024, https://cchu9080.lib.hku.hk/items/show/8.