Brush Washer
Kangxi period, 1662/1722
Medium
porcelain with pale blue glaze
Dimensions
overall: 4.2 x 11.8 cm (1 5/8 x 4 5/8 in.)
Classification
Decorative Art
Department
CSD
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Widener Collection
Accession Number
1942.9.488
Art Historical Context
This delicate *Brush Washer* from China's Qing Dynasty, crafted during the Kangxi period1662–1722), exemplifies the era's mastery of porcelain artistry. Measuring just 4.2 x 11.8 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 a hallmark of Kangxi innovation, evokes a serene, misty sky—likely a refined monochrome effect achieved through precise firing techniques at the imperial kilns in Jingdezhen. The Kangxi reign marked a golden age for Chinese porcelain, with potters pushi...
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...