Chinese Gu or Ritual Wine Vessel

Somewhere, a tall vase in speckled midnight blue, flared like a trumpet at both ends.

This gu or ritual wine vessel is from China, and dates to the 20th century. It is glazed pottery. Later potters in China often copied archaic bronze shapes such as the gu in ceramic, producing glazed versions that recall the early ritual vessels without being used for the same purpose. Pictured here, a slender vase with a flared mouth, a gentle bulge at the middle and a wide cylindrical foot. The glaze is deep blue with lighter mottled patches and drips. The inside of the rim shows a pale cream edge. It is 4.5 inches wide, 4.5 deep and 11 high.

Simple shape, deep color and a brisk sense of poise.