Unknown Maker, Chinese

Offerings of rice and grain were included in burials in southern China, and covered jars such as this, usually made in pairs, have been found in tombs of the wealthy. Lotus petals adorn the jar’s surface, with a bud on the lid. Some of the lotus-leaf tips resemble the heads of turtles, symbols of immortality. The white lotus flower grows in muddy water and is an important symbol in Buddhism, serving as an allegory for rising above the desires of the mundane world and striving for enlightenment.