A GROUP OF FIVE HAN DYNASTY POTTERY VESSELS
This group comprises five Han dynasty pottery objects, including a molded gray pottery double-nozzled oil lamp, a gray pottery stem cup (dou), a gray pottery jar with four loop handles, a green-glazed pottery handled vessel, and a miniature gray pottery funerary vessel. Each piece retains natural earthen encrustations, weathering, and mineral deposits acquired during nearly two millennia of burial, preserving the distinctive archaeological character of Han dynasty ceramics while illustrating the diversity of pottery forms used in daily life and funerary practice.
The molded double-nozzled oil lamp is of hollow arched construction, decorated in relief with geometric and auspicious motifs surrounding two raised wick reservoirs. During the Han dynasty, pottery lamps served not only as practical sources of illumination but also as important funerary objects intended to provide eternal light for the deceased. The carefully molded decoration and balanced composition demonstrate the high level of ceramic craftsmanship achieved during the period.
The gray pottery stem cup (dou), with its flaring mouth, constricted waist, and spreading foot, derives from earlier bronze ritual vessels of the Eastern Zhou period. Widely used for presenting food offerings during sacrificial ceremonies, the dou remained an important ritual form throughout the Han dynasty. Ceramic examples such as this reflect both the continuation of ancient ceremonial traditions and the increasing use of pottery in place of bronze for funerary purposes.
The gray pottery jar is of rounded form with four evenly spaced loop handles attached around the shoulder, further embellished with cord-impressed and incised decoration. The four handles facilitated carrying and securing the vessel with ropes while reinforcing its practical function. Such jars were commonly used for storing grain, wine, and other household provisions, and when placed in tombs symbolized abundance, prosperity, and the continuation of daily life in the afterlife.
The green-glazed handled vessel is covered in a rich copper-green lead glaze, with a broad mouth surmounted by an elegantly arched handle. Green-glazed pottery represents one of the most significant technological achievements of Han ceramic production. Using a lead-based glaze colored with copper oxide, potters achieved a brilliant glassy surface unmatched by earlier unglazed wares. After centuries of burial, the glaze has developed natural weathering and mineral accretions while retaining much of its luminous appearance. Such vessels were generally associated with higher-status burials, reflecting both the technical sophistication and material prosperity of the Han Empire.
Completing the group is a miniature gray pottery vessel decorated with simple incised bands. Rather than serving as a practical household object, vessels of this size were produced specifically as mingqi, or funerary substitutes, intended to symbolically provide the deceased with the necessities of daily life in the afterlife. These miniature ceramics are among the most characteristic objects found in Han tombs and offer valuable insight into Han funerary beliefs.
Together, these five vessels represent several of the most characteristic categories of Han dynasty ceramics, including lighting implements, ritual vessels, storage containers, lead-glazed luxury wares, and funerary mingqi. They collectively illustrate the remarkable development of ceramic technology during the Han dynasty while embodying the enduring concept of "serving the dead as one serves the living," in which tombs were furnished with symbolic objects necessary for comfort, ritual, and daily existence in the next world. Preserved with natural burial patina and archaeological integrity, the group possesses considerable historical, artistic, and scholarly significance.
Dimensions: Double-nozzled gray pottery lamp: H. 3 1/4, L. 7, D. 9 1/8 in.; Gray pottery stem cup (dou): H. 6 3/4 in.; Gray pottery jar with four loop handles: H. 5 7/8 in.; Green-glazed handled vessel: H. 9 1/8, Dia. 5 3/4 in.; Miniature gray pottery funerary vessel: Rim Dia. 1 7/8, Maximum Body Dia. 4 in.
汉代陶器一组
本组共五件汉代陶器，包括一件灰陶双孔陶灯、一件灰陶高柄豆、一件灰陶四耳罐、一件汉绿釉提梁壶，以及一件小型灰陶明器。各器均保存有长期地下埋藏形成的自然土沁、风化及矿物沉积痕迹，时代特征鲜明，较为完整地展现了汉代陶器制作工艺、日常生活器用及墓葬随葬制度。
其中双孔陶灯采用模制成型，整体呈拱券形，中空结构，正面浮雕装饰几何纹、器物纹及吉祥纹饰，两处凸起灯盏用于盛放灯油及灯芯。汉代油灯既是重要的日常照明器具，也是墓葬中最具代表性的随葬明器之一，寓意灯火长明，引导亡者进入来世，体现了汉代“事死如事生”的丧葬观念。此类双孔陶灯制作规整，纹饰丰富，兼具实用性与艺术性，是研究汉代照明器具及模制陶工艺的重要实物。
灰陶高柄豆敞口、束腰、高圈足，器形源于先秦青铜礼器，是汉代礼制文化的重要延续。豆主要用于盛放祭祀供品、果品及食品，在墓葬中则象征亡者仍享有完整的祭祀礼仪与饮食生活，是汉墓中最常见的礼器之一。陶豆以朴素浑厚的造型取代青铜礼器，不仅反映了礼制文化向民间普及的发展过程，也体现了汉代陶器制作工艺的成熟。
灰陶四耳罐器身浑圆，四周均匀附有四个环形耳，肩部饰绳纹及刻划纹，造型古朴厚重。四耳不仅便于穿绳提携和运输，也增强了器物的实用功能。此类器物广泛用于盛放粮食、酒水及其他生活用品，而作为随葬器时，则寓意仓廪充盈、衣食丰足，是汉代墓葬中最具代表性的生活器皿之一。
绿釉提梁壶通体施铜绿铅釉，釉色浓翠莹润，方口宽沿，上方高拱提梁与桥形钮相连，造型端庄而富有建筑美感。汉代绿釉陶器是中国早期低温铅釉技术的重要代表，以铅为基础、铜为呈色剂，经烧成后形成晶莹明亮的玻璃质感。历经两千余年的地下埋藏，釉层表面形成自然风化及矿物沉积，局部仍保留温润的玻璃光泽，充分展现了汉代成熟的制釉工艺。绿釉器多见于等级较高的墓葬，不仅反映了汉代制陶技术的发展水平，也体现了当时社会经济的繁荣与审美趣味。
小型灰陶明器胎质坚实，器形敦厚，口沿饰几何弦纹，体量小巧，应为专门烧造用于墓葬的明器。此类器物并非供现实生活使用，而是以缩微形式象征现实中的生活器具，用于满足亡者在地下世界的生活需要，是研究汉代明器制度及丧葬文化的重要实物资料。
本组五件器物涵盖照明器、礼器、贮藏器、绿釉器及明器等多个类别，完整展现了汉代陶器在不同社会生活领域中的功能与用途。其中既有承袭周代礼制传统的高柄豆，也有代表汉代制陶技术高峰的绿釉器，更有反映现实生活器具的四耳罐与陶灯。这些器物共同勾勒出两千年前汉代社会丰富的物质文化面貌，同时也充分体现了汉人“事死如事生”的生死观念——将现实生活所需的一切，以陶制明器的形式陪伴亡者进入永恒世界。整组器物包浆自然，土沁古雅，保存状况良好，具有较高的历史、艺术及考古研究价值。
尺寸：双孔灰陶灯高3 1/4英寸，长7英寸，深9 1/8英寸；灰陶高柄豆高6 3/4英寸；灰陶四耳罐高5 7/8英寸；汉绿釉提梁壶高9 1/8英寸，直径5 3/4英寸；小型灰陶明器口径1 7/8英寸，最大腹径4英寸。
For condition report and additional photos, please contact the Asian Art Department.
