Covered bowl with Thai celestial beings
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Porcelain painted in overglaze polychrome enamels (Bencharong ware for Thai market )
Dimensions
H. 5 3/4 in. (14.6 cm); Diam. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Avery Fund, 1909
Accession Number
09.70.38a, b
Art Historical Context
This exquisite covered bowl, crafted in 19th-century China during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), exemplifies Bencharong ware—a specialized porcelain made exclusively for the Thai market. Standing just 5¾ inches tall and 4½ inches in diameter, its compact form belies its vibrant artistry. The porcelain is adorned with overglaze polychrome enamels, a technique where colorful pigments are applied over a fired glaze and refired at lower temperatures to create vivid, durable hues. These enamels capture Thai celestial beings, mythical figures from Buddhist cosmology, blending Chinese technical master...