Jar
Unknown Artist
Medium
Porcelain
Dimensions
H. 18 3/4 in. (47.6 cm); Diam. (at rim) 21 5/8 in. (54.9 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
China · Ming dynasty (1368–1644), Wanli period (1573–1620)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. T. Tai, 1970
Accession Number
1970.204
Tags
Art Historical Context
This magnificent porcelain jar hails from China's Ming dynasty, specifically the Wanli period (1573–1620), a golden era for imperial ceramics produced at the famed Jingdezhen kilns. Standing at 18¾ inches tall with an impressively wide rim diameter of 21⅝ inches, it exemplifies the technical mastery of Ming potters, who perfected the translucent, resonant porcelain body fired at high temperatures to achieve its signature white purity and durability. Such large vessels were often crafted for elite use, storage, or display in wealthy households or palaces. The jar's decoration prominently featu...