Bowl

Art Historical Context

This delicate porcelain bowl, crafted in China between 1785 1790 specifically for the American market, the flourishing trans-Pacific trade that followed the American Revolution. Measuring just 6¼ inches in diameter, it produced during a golden age of Chinese export porcelain, when potters in Canton adapted their renowned hard-paste techniques—firing at high temperatures for a translucent, resonant body—to suit Western tastes. Overglaze enamels likely brought vibrant colors to its surface, a labor-intensive process involving multiple kiln firings. The bowl's decoration features birds and a coa...