Xiao

Unknown

18th–19th century · Porcelain · Musical Instruments

Bamboo is the typical material for end-blown flutes, but special decorative ones have sometimes been produced. This molded porcelain tube, marked "Lin Chao Jing," mimics bamboo and is decorated at each end with a vegetal meander, a "Greek key" pattern, and a leaf design. That the instrument is playable is remarkable, as probably only one out of two hundred fired would sound correctly.

Artist

Unknown

Date

18th–19th century

Medium

Porcelain

Culture

Chinese

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1988