Dish
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Painted enamel
Dimensions
Diam. 6 1/8 in. (15.6 cm)
Classification
Enamels
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Mary Clark Thompson, 1923
Accession Number
24.80.392
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite painted enamel dish from 19th-century Qing dynasty China (1644–1911) offers a glimpse into the opulent decorative arts of imperial China. Measuring just 6 1/8 inches in diameter, the shallow dish features delicate motifs of human figures,, and flowers, evoking serene domestic scenes or idyllic landscapes. These tags suggest a harmonious composition blending people with architecture and blooming flora, typical of the period's emphasis on balance, prosperity, and natural beauty. Crafted in painted enamel—a sophisticated technique where colorful enamel pigments are applied to a me...