Chinese Ceramic Vessel

Rows of fine strokes march around the shoulder, as neat as a pleated skirt.

This vessel is from Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, China, is contemporary, and is made of glazed pottery. Cream-glazed jars with loop handles echo classic Chinese forms from the Tang and Song periods, and are often made today as decorative pieces. This one has a broad, tapering body and a short neck with a rolled lip. Three small loop handles sit at the shoulder. Two bands of incised vertical lines wrap the body, one above and one at the middle. A thin ivory glaze covers it, stopping short of the foot, which shows bare grey clay. It is 17 inches high and 13 in diameter.

Pleats in clay, and not a wrinkle anywhere.