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Baluster Jar and Cover
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
The central motif on this jar is a mountain emerging from the sea, symbolizing Mount Sumeru in Buddhist cosmology, and representing the central axis in the universe in Daoism. White cherry blossoms floating on the wavy ground are surrounded by auspicious symbols such as the coin for wealth and the lozenge for victory. The yellow knob on the jar’s cover depicts a cherry blossom. Other fortuitous motifs—such as the leaf of protection, the pearl to grant wishes, the stone chime for celebration, rocks symbolizing longevity—also decorate the lid. While most jars have lost their covers over time, this jar retains its original lid.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineBaluster Jar and Cover, 1600–1650. China, Jiangxi province, Jingdezhen kilns, Ming dynasty (1368–1644) or Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Porcelain with wucai (five-color) enamels; overall: 36.8 x 23.8 cm (14 1/2 x 9 3/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Nancy F. and Joseph P. Keithley Collection Gift, 2020.179
