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Source Description
This jar is a spectacular example of painted pottery from the Majiayao culture, one of the regional cultures of prehistoric China. Its geometric patterns are probably abstract symbols transformed from a bird image, which may suggest a clan totem or nature spirits. Archaeological work confirms the coexistence of different regional cultures in ancient China, contesting the old belief that the Chinese civilization originated solely along the Yellow River. The artifacts of these cultures manifest distinctive characteristics; each one played a role in the formation of the greater Chinese civilization.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
163505
label
Jar with Spiral Designs
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
163505
contentType
object
title
Jar with Spiral Designs
description
This jar is a spectacular example of painted pottery from the Majiayao culture, one of the regional cultures of prehistoric China. Its geometric patterns are probably abstract symbols transformed from a bird image, which may suggest a clan totem or nature spirits. Archaeological work confirms the coexistence of different regional cultures in ancient China, contesting the old belief that the Chinese civilization originated solely along the Yellow River. The artifacts of these cultures manifest distinctive characteristics; each one played a role in the formation of the greater Chinese civilization.
date
3300–2650 BCE
citation
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60753785
genreSpecific
Ceramic
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Diameter: 39.1 cm (15 3/8 in.); Overall: 45.2 cm (17 13/16 in.)
cul
Northwest China, Neolithic period, Majiayao culture, Majiayao phase (3300–2650 BCE)
accession
2004.64
Source extras
tec
earthenware with slip-painted decoration
tombstone
Jar with Spiral Designs, 3300–2650 BCE. Northwest China, Neolithic period, Majiayao culture, Majiayao phase (3300–2650 BCE). Earthenware with slip-painted decoration; diameter: 39.1 cm (15 3/8 in.); overall: 45.2 cm (17 13/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Donna S. and James S. Reid Jr. in honor of Dr. Ju-hsi Chou, 2004.64
collection
China - Neolithic
formerAccessionNumbers
56.2000
didYouKnow
The spiral designs on this jar were made using an ancient Chinese pottery technique called slip painting.
citations
citation
<em>Kaikodo journal</em>. Vol XI, Spring 1999.
page_number
Mentioned and Reproduced: cat. no. 42, pp. 152–153, 286–287
citation
Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>The CMA Companion: A Guide to the Cleveland Museum of Art</em>. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2014.
page_number
Mentioned and Reproduced: p. 92
citation
“A Walking Tour: The entire new museum wing by wing, with curators calling out a few favorite works in the collection.” <em>Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine</em> 54, no. 1 (January/February 2014): 8–33.
page_number
Reproduced and Mentioned: p. 32
citation
Cleveland Museum of Art. <em>Museum Masters: 2016-17 Companion Guide.</em> [Cleveland, Ohio]: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2016.
page_number
Mentioned and Reproduced: p. 34
creditline
Gift of Donna S. and James S. Reid Jr. in honor of Dr. Ju-hsi Chou
updatedAt
2026-05-29 08:29:34.803000
sourceId
163505
dept
Chinese Art
coll
China - Neolithic
med
earthenware with slip-painted decoration
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
b49260e05f156b37