We acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the Country on which the Art Gallery of NSW stands.

Title

Owl-shaped jar

12th century

Artists

Unknown Artist

  • Details

    Other Title
    Owl shaped jar
    Place where the work was made
    Cambodia
    Cultural origin
    Khmer
    Date
    12th century
    Media category
    Ceramic
    Materials used
    earthenware with brown glaze
    Dimensions
    10.8 cm
    Credit
    Gift of Mr F Storch 1981
    Location
    Not on display
    Accession number
    40.1981.a-b
    Copyright

    Reproduction requests

    Share

  • About

    Animal-shaped containers such as this were made in the Khmer empires (9th-15th century) of present day Cambodia and Thailand where they were popular trade items. The owl is the most common of the moulded and incised zoomorphic shapes, which also include rabbits, cats and frogs. The jars were used to hold the lime paste applied to betel (areca) nut leaves for the practice of betel quid chewing.

  • Places

    Where the work was made

    Cambodia

  • Exhibition history

    Shown in 1 exhibition

  • Bibliography

    Referenced in 2 publications

  • Provenance

    Fred Storch, pre 1981, Bellevue Hill/Sydney/New South Wales/Australia, donated to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Feb 1981.