This page was created by Erica Belden. The last update was by Yagnaseni Datta.
Who made this ewer?
The Vietnamese artist who created this ewer remains to be discovered, but we know that they must have been interested in earlier Chinese ceramics. The ewer's white background with cobalt blue decorations was influenced 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. Imagery of birds was present in diverse arts during the 1500s. See the "Ewer in the Form of a Phoenix" for comparison. However, the parrot is not common in Chinese art; it is very specific to Vietnamese iconography and thus is a departure from the Chinese artistic tradition. So, think about how you want to frame your paragraph here.