Jar

Freer acquired this Ming dynasty porcelain jar as a gift from his colleague, Sir William Van Horne (1843-1915), who, like Freer, made his fortune in the railroad industry. (Born in Illinois, Van Horne established his professional career in British Columbia and is best known for overseeing the construction of the first Canadian transcontinental Railway. Like Freer, Van Horne was a regular customer of the Boston-based dealer Matsuki Bunkyo, from whom he may have purchased this blue and white jar. Originally, the vessel was probably produced as export ware, possibly for Southeast Asian markets.