Monumental Terracotta Vessel

Made of unglazed terracotta this Chinese storage jar bears the marks of its creation in the smoky clouds that coat its exterior. The vessel was likely pit fired, a process that dates back thousands of years. Basically a baking technique, clay objects were put in a pit, covered with combustibles and burned. At high heat, vapors swirl around the objects staining the clay with haphazard swirls of color. With its distinctive coloration and wide, open profile, this monumental vessel makes a statement planted or not.