4th-century celadon jar a fusion of practicality and aesthetic appeal

This exquisite celadon jar features a mythical creature design. Its head exhibits grandeur with protruding eyes, upturned nose, and a tongue holding a pearl.

Its body seamlessly integrates with the vessel’s form, with the belly serving as the vessel’s abdomen and the ears as the handles. The creature’s four claws, wings, mane and tail intricately adorn the vessel. It is a brilliant fusion of functionality and aesthetic appeal, a typical representative of 4th-century celadon.

The vessel is one of the treasures of the Nanjing Museum. It was unearthed in 1976 from the tomb of Zhou Fang, father of Zhou Chu, a notorious youth who reformed himself and became a beloved official of the Western Jin Dynasty (265-316).