Vase with dragon and phoenix
Unknown Artist
early 18th century
Medium
Soft-paste porcelain with underglaze cobalt blue (Jingdezhen ware)
Dimensions
H. 7 5/8 in. (19.4 cm); Diam. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Benjamin Altman, 1913
Accession Number
14.40.271
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate vase, titled *Vase with Dragon Phoenix*, hails from China's renowned Jingdezhen kilns during the early 18th century, in the Qing dynasty (1644–1). Crafted from soft-paste porcelain—a refined material blending kaolin clay with glass frit for a luminous glow—and painted in vibrant underglaze cobalt blue it stands just 7⅝ inches tall with a 3¼-inch. This petite baluster form was ideal for scholarly displays or altars, showcasing the imperial kilns' mastery at a time when porcelain production reached artistic heights under Emperor Kangxi and Yongzheng. The dynamic motifs of a coilin...