Chinese Ceramic Vessel

A little animal-shaped pot with pricked ears and a sulky pout.

This terra cotta vessel is from Hebei Province, China. The body is a rounded bowl formed as an animal, with a projecting snout, pointed ears and a broad open top. The clay is a pale gray-brown, with orange mottling and mineral stains across the surface. The lips of the snout are thick and rubbed, and the ears are slightly chipped. Animal-shaped vessels have a long history in Chinese ceramics, often connected to ritual or table use.

About 7 inches long. A bowl with a personality problem.