Jar
Unknown Artist
Medium
Porcelain with crackled white glaze (Guangdong ware)
Dimensions
H. 10 3/4 in. (27.3 cm); Diam. 11 1/4 in. (28.6 cm); Diam. of rim 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm); Diam. of base 8 1/4 in. (21 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
China · Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Colman, 1893
Accession Number
93.1.235
Art Historical Context
This elegant porcelain jar from China's Ming dynasty (13681644) exemplifies the era's mastery of ceramic artistry. Standing at 10¾ inches tall with a generous 11¼-inch diameter, bulbous form tapers to a narrow 4½-inch rim and sturdy ¼-inch base, making it both practical and visually striking. Produced as Guangdong ware, it hails from southern China's kilns, which were vital centers for crafting high-quality porcelain beyond the imperial factories of Jingdezhen. The's defining feature is its crackled white glaze—a deliberate technique where the glaze contracts differently from the body during ...