The Gardiner Ceramic Museum

People, All Asian, Asian Heritage, Museums

Pilgrim Flask
China, Jingdezhen, Qianlong period (1736-1795)
Hard-paste porcelain with underglaze cobalt
The Robert Murray and Ann Walker Bell Collection, G98.9.1
Gardiner Museum, Toronto

Derived from a West Asian form, this type of vessel was known as a pilgrim flask or moon flask in Chinese culture. The specific shape and decoration of the flask displayed here are based on early 15th century prototypes. The piece is one of a group of flasks that was made as an homage to the Ming dynasty.