Tapered Rice Wine Jar

Wine production in China can be traced back to Neolithic times. Most often made of grain, Chinese wine served an important role in rituals, was used for its medicinal properties on grain, and consumed during social gatherings. Thrown on a potter’s wheel in Ningzia province, this Qing-dynasty wine jar is accented with hand-applied loops of clay along the neck that recall iron prototypes from centuries past. A silky cream glaze coats the surface with drips intact, a testament to the potter’s commitment to craft and materials.