2012.91.73, Cizhou ware meiping, Northern Song (960–1127) or later
Eason Eige Collection; photo by B. Bernard
2012.91.73, Cizhou ware meiping, Northern Song (960–1127)
or later
Eason Eige Collection; photo by B. Bernard
Leopards are found across much of the Old World, including China. The sgraffito leopard on this vase is highly stylized, suggesting that the artist had never seen one in the wild or was duplicating standard depictions of leopards (or both). The back of the jar, which you can see here, shows equally stylized forest foliage.
The term meiping (梅瓶) refers to the shape of the jar. Originally such jars were used to hold wine, but by Song times they were instead produced to hold branches of plum blossoms.
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