Jar with phoenix

Not all of the cizhou decorations in white and black were rendered in the same manner. Some wares went through additional decorative processes, like this piece. The painted black phoenix and clouds were applied over a white slip on which incised lines, instead of drawing, were used to further depict details. During the Yuan, cizhou craftsmen preferred phoenixes and dragons as subject matter and portrayed them either individually or as a pair (KG 1973.5: pl. 8; WW 1987.8: 86). Usually one or two birds with their companion dragon occupy the middle of the jar, and a frieze consisting of floral scrolls or lotus panels is set above or below the main picture. Among such jars, representations of the phoenix motif are diverse, with few repetitions.