Tripod Ewer c. 2000

The Erlitou people, whoever they were, made this tripod ewer out of clay, but when, we don’t know. It's all about that smokey, grey-brown hue, achieved with a high-heat firing process - how wild is that? It’s a bit like looking at a modernist sculpture, like Brancusi maybe, but also something totally alien. Check out the surface; it's got this beautifully uneven texture. You can almost feel the hands that shaped it, the little imperfections that make it feel alive. And those three legs, right? They give it this grounded, sturdy vibe, like it could stand its ground through anything. Then there's the handle, this simple, elegant curve that invites you to pick it up, to pour. It reminds me of the work of Lucie Rie, that beautiful simplicity and utility of form. But really, it's a testament to the way art speaks across time. It’s not about perfection, but about the journey of the making itself, and the dialogue it creates between the maker and us.