Search

A concrete cantilevered building against blue sky and green landscaping

A large green wall with oil paintings in gold frames above a tiled floor

A museum interior space with paintings and concrete walls and stairs

A concrete-walled lobby with windows, a tiled floor, and a circular desk

The top of a concrete spiral staircase with a wooden railing

A tall tree is the focal point of a garden in between two concrete buildings

About arrow_back

Admission for everyone is always free! Check here for current hours and more.

A concrete cantilevered building against blue sky and green landscaping

Collections arrow_back

The Johnson Museum holds more than 40,000 works in its collection from around the world.

A large green wall with oil paintings in gold frames above a tiled floor

Exhibitions arrow_back

Check out what’s on view this season at the Museum and look back through our history.

A museum interior space with paintings and concrete walls and stairs

Events arrow_back

Free events for everyone, plus special programs for students, families, and more!

A concrete-walled lobby with windows, a tiled floor, and a circular desk

Learn arrow_back

The Johnson Museum actively contributes to the intellectual life of our campus and community.

The top of a concrete spiral staircase with a wooden railing

Support arrow_back

Help the Johnson Museum continue its legacy by making a gift today.

A tall tree is the focal point of a garden in between two concrete buildings

China, Zhejiang or Jiangsu province

Beaker (zun)

View All Works

Object Details

Culture

China, Zhejiang or Jiangsu province
Western Zhou dynasty (ca. 1050-771 BC)

Date

10th or 9th century BC

Medium

Glazed stoneware

Dimensions

Height: 5 1/4 inches (13.3 cm)
Diameter: 6 1/8 inches (15.6 cm)

Credit Line

Gift of F. Eunice Shatzman, Class of 1949, and Herbert F. Shatzman

Object
Number

2008.072.001

As Chinese potters improved their firing capabilities to achieve the high temperatures necessary for(…)

As Chinese potters improved their firing capabilities to achieve the high temperatures necessary for producing stoneware, they would have observed that wood ash from the fire settled on the vessels and formed a natural glaze. Soon they began to apply wood ash directly on the vessels to create a deliberate glaze. The earliest Chinese kiln sites known to have produced glazed stoneware have been found in Jiangxi, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces. An important discovery of Western Zhou period (1027–771 BC) glazed stoneware occurred in 1959 at Tunxi, in southern Anhui province, where two tombs of mound construction yielded seventy-one glazed stoneware vessels, along with bronze ritual vessels and implements made of jade and stone. Some of the ceramics discovered in these tombs had brownish glazes, while others had green glazes. Iron oxide in the glaze produced the two colors: the lower percentage of iron resulted in green color. This zun beaker is similar to excavated vessels from the Tunxi finds.

Create an account

Please take a moment to fill your information to create your account.

Reset Password

Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive mail with link to set new password.

Save Artwork

Save the artwork in any of your exhibitions or create a new one.

You have not made any exhibitions.

Create New Exhibition

Create New Exhibition