Five Dynasties of Chinese Pottery

November 21, 2009 – July 30, 2010

This exhibit traces Chinese pottery from its humble, utilitarian beginnings to its culmination as an elite art form. Early specimens reveal ancient social structure, with Han Dynasty 漢朝 (206 BCE-220 CE) roof tile ends that record the status of their owners in ancient wadang 瓦當 script. Grave goods intended for use in the afterlife, like a Han Dynasty miniature house and Song Dynasty 宋朝 (960-1279 CE) funerary jars, shed light on daily life and death in a bygone era. Sculptures of horses and carriages capture the dominance of the equestrian Mongol culture during the Yuan Dynasty 元朝 (1279-1368 CE). And porcelain vessels illustrate the expertise of Ming Dynasty 明朝 (1368-1644 CE) craftsmen who increased firing temperatures and used white kaolin clay to create fine china that was coveted worldwide. Kevin Stewart donated most of this marvelous collection. The County of San Diego Community Projects Program, with the support of Supervisor Ron Roberts, provided the funding for the purchase of several additional pieces. A generous grant from the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation made the research and production of this exhibition possible.