Vase in the Form of an Archaic Cong

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Vase in the Form of an Archaic Cong

1862-1874

Artist/maker unknown, Chinese

Cong (pronounced tsong) are jade tubes made during Neolithic times—over four thousand years ago. Their exact use during that period is unknown, although later texts have suggested that cong, being square, were ritual implements representing the earth. In the thirteenth century, Song dynasty (960–1279) emperors were the first to commission celadon-glazed ceramic vases in the form of jade cong, inspired by the interest in archaism among the scholarly elite. The practice was revived in the Qing dynasty. This porcelain example has added trigrams (ancient Chinese symbols used in divination that consist of combinations of three whole or broken lines) on its sides.

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Object Details

Title:

Vase in the Form of an Archaic Cong

Date:

1862-1874

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Chinese

Medium:

Porcelain with pale blue celadon glaze

Dimensions:

10 7/8 x 5 3/8 inches (27.6 x 13.7 cm)

Classification:

Containers

Credit Line:

The General Hector Tyndale Memorial Collection, 1897

Accession Number:

1897-401

Geography:

Made in China, Asia

Context:

Dynasty: Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) Period: Tongzhi Period (1862-1874)

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