Water pot
Unknown Artist
probably 19th century
Medium
Porcelain with white glaze
Dimensions
Height: 3 3/4 in (9.5 cm.)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture
Chinese
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.1749
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Robert Lehman Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this water pot exemplifies the refined artistry of 19th-century Chinese porcelain Standing just 3 3/4 inches (9.5 cm) tall, its petite form was likely designed for practical yet elegant use—perhaps in a scholar's studio for holding water to grind ink or during tea ceremonies, rituals central to Chinese cultural life. Crafted from porcelain with a pristine white glaze, the vessel highlights the technical mastery of Chinese potters during the Qing dynasty era. Porcelain, prized for its translucency and durability, was a ...