北齊 胡人舞伎紋青釉陶扁壶|Pilgrim’s flask with Central Asian dancers

Unknown

late 6th century · Earthenware with molded decoration under olive-green glaze · Asian Art

Both the shape and decoration show foreign influence: the shape is based on a West Asian pilgrim’s flask, while the whirling dancer is performing a dance derived from the culture of Sogdia. Centered in present-day Uzbekistan, merchants from this polity, some of whom lived in China, dominated the Silk Road trade from the fourth to the seventh century.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 6th century

Medium

Earthenware with molded decoration under olive-green glaze

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. William P. Frankenhoff and Mrs. Richard E. Linburn Gifts, 2001