Dish with figures by a lotus pond
Unknown Artist
late 18th century
Medium
Porcelain painted in overglaze polychrome enamels (Jingdezhen ware)
Dimensions
H. 5 1/8 in. (13 cm); W. 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase by subscription, 1879
Accession Number
79.2.1022
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate porcelain dish, titled *Dish with Figures by a Lotus Pond*, hails from China's Jingdezhen kilns during the late 18th century, at the height of the Qing dynasty (16441911). Measuring just over 5 inches in height width, it exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of imperial porcelain production, where artisans fired high-quality clay bodies to create translucent white surfaces ideal for decoration. The scene depicts men gathered near blooming lotuses and shady trees, evoking a, harmonious moment in nature—a common motif in Chinese art symbolizing purity, prosperity, and scholarly l...