Covered Vase
Unknown Artist
1736–95
Medium
Porcelain
Dimensions
H. 19 in. (48.3 cm)
Classification
Vase
Culture
Chinese
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of the Members of the Committee of the Bertha King Benkard Memorial Fund, 1946
Accession Number
46.67.24a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant Covered Vase, crafted in China between 1736 and 1795 during the Qianlong era of the Qing dynasty (1644–1912), stands an impressive 19 inches (48.3 cm) tall. Made of fine porcelain, it exemplifies the technical mastery of Chinese potters at Jingdezhen, the world's porcelain capital, where kaolin clay and high-fired glazes produced translucent, durable wares prized globally. The vase's surface, adorned with landscapes and floral motifs as suggested by its decorative tags, captures the era's love for harmonious nature scenes—rolling hills, blooming flowers evoking prosperity and beau...