Bird feeder with fisherman in a landscape
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Porcelain painted in overglaze polychrome enamels (Jingdezhen ware, famille noire )
Dimensions
H. 3 5/8 in. (9.2 cm); Diam. 1 1/2 in (3.8 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
14.40.306
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate porcelain bird feeder, titled *Bird Feeder with Fisherman in a Landscape*, hails from China's Qing dynasty (1644–1911), crafted in the 18th century at the renowned Jingdezhenns. Standing just 3⅝ inches tall, this petite vessel (H. 3⅝ in.; Diam. 1½ in.) served a practical purpose—dispensing seeds to birds—while doubling as a charming decorative object. Its scene of a lone fisherman amid a serene landscape evokes the harmonious ideals of Chinese literati culture, where such motifs symbolized contemplation and unity with nature. The artistry shines in its famille noire technique, a...