Description
The origins of this kind of pitcher, characterized by its long neck, round body, and handle, may be traced back to the ancient Sasanian Empire of Iran.
Engraved onto the body are winged horses. These mythical creatures are known for pulling the chariot of the sun god Apollo, and also appear on the murals above the heads of the Buddhas of Bamiyan in central Afghanistan, a region that was once an important part of the Silk Road. Although the depiction of these creatures on the pitcher shows influence from Tang China and the Korean kingdom of Baekche, this pitcher was most likely created in Japan. This is the oldest object created in Japan that features images of these winged horses. Moreover, the mouth and handle imitate the form of a Chinese dragon, with the hinged lid serving as the head.
This pitcher thus serves as a symbol of the spectacular international exchange of cultures that took place along the ancient Silk Road.
Data source
ColBase
"ColBase: Integrated Collections Database of the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan" is a service that enables a multi-database search of the collections in the four national museums (To...
Contents holder/Provider
Aggregator
National Institutes for Cultural Heritage
The National Institutes for Cultural Heritage (NICH) comprise four National Museums (Tokyo National Museum, Kyoto National Museum, Nara National Museum, and Kyushu National Museum) and two National Research Institutes for Cultural Properties (Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, and Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties), as well as the International Research Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region (IRCI) in Sakai City, for a total of seven institutions.
Last updated
May 25, 2026