Jug with Portuguese arms
Unknown Artist
ca. 1520–40
Medium
Hard-paste porcelain with cobalt blue under transparent glaze (Jingdezhen ware)
Dimensions
Height: 7 3/8 in. (18.7 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Porcelain-Export
Culture
Chinese, for Portuguese market
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Helena Woolworth McCann Collection, Purchase, Winfield Foundation Gift, 1961
Accession Number
61.196
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant jug, crafted in Jingdezhen, China, around 1520–40, exemplifies early Chinese export porcelain tailored for European tastes. Made from hard-paste porcelain—a durable, translucent material whose formula was a closely guarded Chinese secret until the 18th century—the vessel features cobalt blue underglaze decoration beneath a transparent glaze. Standing just 7⅜ inches tall, its form is practical yet refined, ideal for serving wine or water in a Portuguese household. The standout feature is the coat of arms of an unidentified Portuguese family, a rare customization that highlights th...