2012.91.54, flame jar with lid; Tang dynasty (A.D. 618–907)
Eason Eige Collection; photo by B. Bernard.
2012.91.54, flame jar with lid; Tang dynasty (A.D. 618–907)
Eason Eige Collection; photo by B. Bernard.
The appliqué items on the side represent flames. We've never seen a jar quite like this one, so we're not sure what it was used for. However, the jar may allude to Taoist story about Du Zichun, a wastrel who reforms himself and joins forces with an alchemist to seek immortality. The alchemist has a huge cauldron burning over purple flames (and if there is a connection here, the flame jar represents that cauldron). At the critical moment in the story, Du Zichun fails to show complete detachment from human affairs and the immortality elixir being brewed by his mentor is consumed by the flames.
It's a tenuous connection, we admit. If you've seen a vessel like this one,
and have a better explanation of what it is,
please e-mail us using the
link at the bottom of the page.
The next image shows the jar with the lid removed.
Photo by B. Bernard.
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