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Rectangular pillow with an oriole singing by a peony
Rectangular pillow with an oriole singing by a peony

Rectangular pillow with an oriole singing by a peony

Place of OriginHenan province or Hebei province, China
DynastyNorthern Song period (960-1127)
MaterialsHigh-fired ceramic with incised decoration and green, yellow, and brown glazes
DimensionsH. 4 1/2 in x W. 14 1/2 in x D. 6 3/4 in, H. 11.4 cm x W. 36.9 cm x D. 17.2 cm
Credit LineThe Avery Brundage Collection
Object numberB60P1218
DepartmentChinese Art
ClassificationsCeramics
On View
Not on view
More Information
Cizhou three-color glazed pillows were commonly produced in rectangular, bean, or octagonal shapes. This piece is distinctive for both its motif and its composition, depicting an oriole flying by peonies surrounded by the lobed triangle. The green-toned background was an aesthetic fad of the time and is found on many cizhou pillows, both those with and without the zhang marks (Shoudu Mus. 1991: pl. 26-7). The symmetrical design of light-toned side panels was commonly rendered on pillows, as can be deduced from the finds at a kiln site in Jiyuan, Henan (WW 1981.1: 82).