Covered Tureen
Unknown Artist
late 17th–early 18th century
Medium
Porcelain painted in underglaze blue with gilded biscuit decoration
Dimensions
H. 8 7/8 in. (22.5 cm); W. 7 in. (17.8 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
Purchase by subscription, 1879
Accession Number
79.2.307a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant covered tureen, crafted in China during the Kangxi period1662–1722) of the Qing, exemplifies the pinnacle of porcelain production at Jingdezhen kilns. Standing at 8⅞ inches tall and 7 inches wide this functional yet luxurious serving vessel for soups or stews features a domed lid and bulbous body, painted in vibrant underglaze blue—a technique where cobalt pigment is applied before glazing and fired at high temperatures, embedding color deeply for enduring brilliance. The decoration likely depicts graceful women accompanied by dogs, a motif evoking leisurely domestic scenes popul...