Ewer and cover
- Audio guide stop: 332
- Gallery: Room 95
- Culture: Yuan dynasty
- Made in: Longquan (area)
- Date: 14thC
- Object type: ewer, cover
- Materials: porcelain
- Museum number: PDF.218
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
Before you is an elegant porcelain ewer and its domed cover from the Yuan dynasty, made around the 14th century in Longquan, China. The pear-shaped body is balanced and smooth, with a long, curving spout on one side and a finely crafted handle on the other. Notice how the handle tapers into three neat lobes at its base—demonstrating exceptional skill in design and detail.
The entire piece is covered in a pale greyish-green glaze, known in English as celadon. This type of glaze was especially appreciated in Japan, where it became a valued art form and was often used in the tea ceremony. The ewer was collected by Sir Percival David from the Hirooka Collection in Kobe, highlighting its artistic and historical significance. This is a fine example of Longquan porcelain, admired for its beauty and craftsmanship across East Asia.
See it in person
Ewer and cover is on display in Room 95 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and type its audio guide stop number, 332, from the gallery label, or take a photo of it, to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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