Ewer in the Form of a Parrot
1 2024-03-28T13:30:36-07:00 Richard Lent 3e723f35a685aebf07b8b602f188f085f3fa0c8f 44801 2 Ewer in the Form of a Parrot, Vietnam, 1500s, underglaze blue decorated stoneware, Alexander H. Bullock Fund and the Stoddard Acquisition Fund, 1998.1. plain 2024-07-10T11:32:16-07:00 Zoe Zimmer 726b0bce27fe407b566d2fd9122871e9e9ddcf50This page is referenced by:
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Ewer in the Form of a Parrot (1998.1)
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The Ewer in the Form of a Parrot (1998.1) is located in the Asian Gallery (106).
Ewers are containers used for the transportation of different liquids, often displaying decorative shapes and colors. This ewer is one of many blue and white pieces of ceramic that were created during the 1500s across different regions, and as such it is part of a larger group of blue and white ceramic pieces that are found at the Worcester Art Museum. Ewers like this one were used for the transportation of various liquids, including water for drinking and wine for celebrations.
Erica Belden, Class of 2026, College of the Holy Cross -
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Why was this Ewer made and how was it used?
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This ewer was made for the transportation of liquids. Ewers from this time period were used to transport wine for drinking and water for bathing. These objects could be used daily for diverse needs. The Ewer in Chicken Shape in the National Museum of Vietnamese History, Hanoi, Vietnam, makes a nice comparison, both in terms of shape and style, to the Worcester Art Museum's ewer.
Many portable artworks were made in the shape of animals, such as the Reclining Cat, made in Greater Iran in the 1100s or 1200s. While these household objects do not serve the same function, they share an artistic impulse to mimic the form of a living creature.
Erica Belden, Class of 2026, College of the Holy Cross -
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Who made this Ewer?
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The Vietnamese artist who created this ewer remains unknown, but they must have been interested in earlier Chinese ceramics. The ewer's white background with cobalt blue decorations was inspired by the porcelain made in China before the "Ming Gap." Birds can symbolize beauty, dignity, and peace, themes that the creator of this object must have had in mind when shaping this ewer. The imagery of birds was present in diverse arts during the 1500s. The image of a parrot is very specific to Vietnamese iconography, and thus is a departure from Chinese artistic tradition. See the "Ewer in the Form of a Phoenix" for comparison.
Erica Belden, Class of 2026, College of the Holy Cross
