Funerary Storage Jar c. 2300
majiayao
minneapolisinstituteofart
ceramic
egg art
ceramic
jewelry design
culinary art
food illustration
stoneware
ceramic
china
food art
earthenware
watercolour illustration
food photography
This large, bulbous, earthenware storage jar from the Majiayao culture (c. 2300) is decorated with a geometric design in black and red paint. The design consists of triangles arranged in rows, creating a pattern of interlacing lines and shapes. The vessel is a key example of the Majiayao culture’s distinctive artistic style. This jar is a reminder that, despite limited written records, ancient cultures expressed themselves through their crafts.
Comments
The seemingly abstract zigzag designs on the burial storage jar are a stylized version of a human-like stick figure. The neck of the jar in this case represents the head. Built from coils of clay, the vessel relates in shape to the earlier Banshan (2600-2300 BCE) jars shown here, but its proportions are more elongated and its surface is matte and unburnished. Related Machang (2200-2000 BCE) type jars have been excavated in Gansu and Qinghai provinces in northwest China.
Join the conversation
Join millions of artists and users on Artera today and experience the ultimate creative platform.
CollectMore like this
