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The central motif on this jar is a mountain emerging from the sea, symbolizing Mount Sumeru in Buddhist cosmology, and representing the central axis in the universe in Daoism. White cherry blossoms floating on the wavy ground are surrounded by auspicious symbols such as the coin for wealth and the lozenge for victory. The yellow knob on the jar’s cover depicts a cherry blossom. Other fortuitous motifs—such as the leaf of protection, the pearl to grant wishes, the stone chime for celebration, rocks symbolizing longevity—also decorate the lid. While most jars have lost their covers over time, this jar retains its original lid.

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Page
1
Source index
0
Type
photo
Media ID
f9feadf520754186
Size
unknown

Document data

ID
75575
Core
obj
Type
object
DTO data
{
    "id": "75575",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Baluster Jar and Cover",
    "description": "The central motif on this jar is a mountain emerging from the sea, symbolizing Mount Sumeru in Buddhist cosmology, and representing the central axis in the universe in Daoism. White cherry blossoms floating on the wavy ground are surrounded by auspicious symbols such as the coin for wealth and the lozenge for victory. The yellow knob on the jar’s cover depicts a cherry blossom. Other fortuitous motifs—such as the leaf of protection, the pearl to grant wishes, the stone chime for celebration, rocks symbolizing longevity—also decorate the lid. While most jars have lost their covers over time, this jar retains its original lid.",
    "date": "1600–1650",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/2020.179",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q87480813"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Ceramic"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2020.179/2020.179_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2020.179/2020.179_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2020.179/2020.179_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 36.8 x 23.8 cm (14 1/2 x 9 3/8 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "China, Jiangxi province, Jingdezhen kilns, Ming dynasty (1368–1644) or Qing dynasty (1644–1911)"
    ],
    "accession": "2020.179"
}

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Document identity
{
    "localId": "75575",
    "label": "Baluster Jar and Cover",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object"
}
Document source metadata
{
    "id": "75575",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Baluster Jar and Cover",
    "description": "The central motif on this jar is a mountain emerging from the sea, symbolizing Mount Sumeru in Buddhist cosmology, and representing the central axis in the universe in Daoism. White cherry blossoms floating on the wavy ground are surrounded by auspicious symbols such as the coin for wealth and the lozenge for victory. The yellow knob on the jar’s cover depicts a cherry blossom. Other fortuitous motifs—such as the leaf of protection, the pearl to grant wishes, the stone chime for celebration, rocks symbolizing longevity—also decorate the lid. While most jars have lost their covers over time, this jar retains its original lid.",
    "date": "1600–1650",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/2020.179",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q87480813"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Ceramic"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2020.179/2020.179_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2020.179/2020.179_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2020.179/2020.179_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 36.8 x 23.8 cm (14 1/2 x 9 3/8 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "China, Jiangxi province, Jingdezhen kilns, Ming dynasty (1368–1644) or Qing dynasty (1644–1911)"
    ],
    "accession": "2020.179"
}
Document source extras
{
    "tec": "Porcelain with wucai (five-color) enamels",
    "tombstone": "Baluster Jar and Cover, 1600–1650. China, Jiangxi province, Jingdezhen kilns, Ming dynasty (1368–1644) or Qing dynasty (1644–1911). Porcelain with wucai (five-color) enamels; overall: 36.8 x 23.8 cm (14 1/2 x 9 3/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Nancy F. and Joseph P. Keithley Collection Gift, 2020.179",
    "collection": "China - Ming Dynasty",
    "didYouKnow": "The waves are depicted in a rich aubergine, or purple, glaze.",
    "citations": [
        {
            "citation": "S. Marchant &amp; Son. <em>Exhibition of Two Hundred Years of Chinese Porcelain 1522-1722 to Be Held from Sunday 7th June Until Friday 19th June 1998</em>. London: S. Marchant &amp; Son, 1998.",
            "page_number": "Mentioned and Reproduced: no. 41, p. 56"
        },
        {
            "citation": "Von Spee, Clarissa. \"Chinese Ceramics and Works on Paper.\" In <em>The Keithley Collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art, </em>edited by Heather Lemonedes Brown, 194–229. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 2022.",
            "page_number": "Mentioned and Reproduced: pp. 220–221; Mentioned: pp. 259–261"
        }
    ],
    "url": "https://clevelandart.org/art/2020.179",
    "creditline": "Nancy F. and Joseph P. Keithley Collection Gift",
    "updatedAt": "2026-06-11 12:17:39.002000",
    "imageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2020.179/2020.179_print.jpg",
    "sourceId": 75575,
    "dept": "Chinese Art",
    "coll": "China - Ming Dynasty",
    "med": "Porcelain with wucai (five-color) enamels",
    "thumbnail_url": null,
    "image_url": null
}
Page context
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    "type": "photo",
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