Red and green colored porcelain ewer with white glaze- Hunan Museum
Home Ceramics Red and green colored porcelain ewer with white glaze
Red and green colored porcelain ewer with white glaze
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Date:Tang Dynasty(618-906 CE)

Dimensions: Height: 22cm; diameter of bottom: 11.8cm


The handled ewer was a utensil used for pouring wine or tea. The ChangSha Kiln was the earliest kiln to produce red colored porcelain. This ewer was decorated with red and green colors, which is strong evidence for this. The ewer has a flared mouth, wide neck, sliding shoulders, flat bottom, and a diamond shaped short spout in the front with a handle in the back and is covered with a white opaque glaze. The body is painted with designs in red and green.


In ancient times, people were fond of red because red could arouse attention, excitement and tension. Also, it symbolized life and light as blood and fire were are founded in red. When burying the elderly and women, people who lived in caves would scatter hematite powder around the body. The people in from the area of Chu also favored red. Chinese tradition uses red as a positive, joyful symbol to bring good luck and happy weddings. Therefore, traditional objects were made red. For example, lacquer ware from the Han Dynasty was painted black with a red background or red with a black background. Also, as red painting material was expensive, red walls and textiles represented luxury and wealth.