Coveted by collectors across West Asia and the Islamic world, and later Western countries, this jar represents master artisanship and technical excellence that no other makers in the world were able to reproduce.
The careful separation of colors on the glazed enamel surfaces points to a technological achievement called fa-hua and it allowed artisans to incorporate colored glazes into the ceramics without having to use paint after
the piece was fired in a kiln — helping insure the vibrant colors lasted for centuries without fading.
Like many other American collectors in the 19th and 20th centuries, the Duke family purchased jars like this one to display in their homes and to show off their wealth, sophisticated taste, and understanding of “exotic” cultures.
Purchased by Doris Duke in 1972.
