Covered Box
Unknown Artist
Medium
Porcelain with peachbloom glaze
Dimensions
H. 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm); Diam. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Kangxi period (1662–1722)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Accession Number
29.100.363a, b
Art Historical Context
This delicate covered box, crafted in China during the Kangxi period1662–1722) of the Qing dynasty, the era's mastery of porcelain artistry. Measuring just 1⅜ inches high and 2¾ inches in diameter, its petite scale suggests it was designed for intimate, everyday use—perhaps to hold seal paste, cosmetics, or precious spices for scholars or elites. Produced at the imperial kilns of Jingdezhen, the epicenter of Chinese porcelain, such objects reflect the Kangxi emperor's patronage of refined ceramics, blending functionality with aesthetic elegance. The standout feature is its peachbloom glaze, a...