Vase with Elephant Heads and Cloud Designs
Unknown Artist
Medium
Soft-paste porcelain with incised and applied decoration (Jingdezhen ware)
Dimensions
H. 10 in. (25.4 cm); Diam. 6 in. (15.2 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong period (1736–95)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Accession Number
29.100.279
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant vase from China's Qing dynasty, specifically the Qianlong period (6–95), exemplifies pinnacle of Jingdezhen porcelain production, the imperial kilns renowned for their technical mastery and exquisite designs. Crafted from soft-paste porcelain—a material prized for its fine texture and translucency—the vase stands 10 inches tall with a 6-inch diameter, featuring a baluster shape adorned with incised and applied decorations. Elephant heads and swirling cloud motifs grace its surface, symbols deeply rooted in Chinese cosmology: elephants evoke strength, wisdom, and auspicious fortune...