Vase (Hu) with Horizontal Bands, Loop Handles, and Lionlike Medallions, Sui dynasty (581–618). Stoneware with underglaze molded and applied decoration, 41.6 × 23 cm. Art Institute of Chicago, Gift of Russell Tyson, 1951.299.

The short-lived Sui dynasty brought about tremendous developments in ceramic craftsmanship. This modestly curved celadon vase is a good example. Marked by horizontal bands of azure blue glaze that rise toward its opening, the surface is a pale and earthy moss-green; drips of glaze run toward the bottom with a sense of urgency. Though early Sui vases often had coarse finishes due to insufficient clay preparation and unrefined firing techniques, bold structural modeling was emphasized: this elegant hu showcases full-maned lion medallions that alternate with curved and pinched lug handles. The gradual use of more refined materials and thinner glazes provided a solid base for the Tang ceramic renaissance to come. Indeed, by the end of the Sui dynasty, which brought about pivotal unification in China, craftspeople had succeeded in making white ceramics of such translucency and brightness they could be considered the first porcelains.