Vase
Unknown Artist
Medium
Porcelain
Dimensions
H. 8 1/2 in. (21.6 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Kangxi period (1662–1722)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913
Accession Number
14.40.356
Art Historical Context
This elegant porcelain vase hails from Qing dynasty during the Kangxi period (16621722), a golden era for ceramic artistry at the imperial kilns of Jingdezhen. Standing a modest 8½ inches (21.6 cm) tall, its petite scale suggests it was designed for display on a scholar's table or as part of a larger decorative ensemble, embodying the refined aesthetic prized by the elite. Kangxi reign porcelain represents a pinnacle of technical innovation, with potters achieving unprecedented translucency, durability, and precision in forms like this vase. While specific decoration details are elusive, thes...