Bowl (one of a pair)
Unknown Artist
Medium
Painted enamel
Dimensions
Diam. 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm)
Classification
Enamels
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911), late Qianlong period (1736–95)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Mary Clark Thompson, 1923
Accession Number
24.80.402
Art Historical Context
This exquisite painted enamel bowl, one of matching pair, hails from China's Qing dynasty during the late Qianlong period1736–95), a golden era of imperial artistry under the Qianlong Emperor. Crafted in the Asian tradition, its modest diameter of 4 3/4 inches (12.1 cm) suggests was likely a delicate decorative vessel or holder for small treasures, embodying the refined luxury of palace workshops. Painted enamel, a sophisticated medium blending vitreous pigments fired onto a metal base, showcases the technical virtuosity of Qing enamellers. Techniques like cloisonné or painted overglaze allow...