Brush Washer
Kangxi period, 1662/1722
Medium
porcelain with pale blue glaze
Dimensions
overall: 4.8 x 12.1 cm (1 7/8 x 4 3/4 in.)
Classification
Decorative Art
Department
CSD
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Widener Collection
Accession Number
1942.9.484
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Widener Collection at the National Gallery of Art, this *Brush Washer* exemplifies the refined porcelain artistry of China's Qing Dynasty during the Kangxi period (2–1722). just 4.8 x 12.1 cm, this small vessel was designed for scholars and calligraphers to rinse their ink brushes, a practical yet elegant tool in the literati studio. Its pale blue glaze, softly luminous and even, creates a serene, watery illusion—evoking the tranquility prized in Chinese aesthetics. Crafted likely at the imperial kilns of Jingdezhen, Kangxi porcelains marked a pinnacle of technical mastery. Pot...
About the Artist
Chinese Qing Dynasty
"Chinese Qing Dynasty" serves as a collective attribution in museum collections for anonymous artworks produced during China's Qing era (1644–1912), encompassing the works of imperial workshop artisans rather than a single individual. These creators operated primarily from the imperial kilns at Jingdezhen, where potters, painters, and enamellers collaborated under strict court oversight, though sp...