Peach-Shaped Wine Pot or Tea Pot
ca. 1644–83
Medium
Porcelain with relief decoration under polychrome glazes.
Dimensions
Height: 12.7 cm.
Classification
Ceramics-Porcelain
Culture
Chinese
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.1719
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delightful peach-shaped wine pot or teapot, crafted in China around 1644–83 during the early Qing dynasty, exemplifies the period's masterful porcelain artistry. Standing just 12.7 cm tall, its whimsical form mimics a ripe peach, complete with relief-decorated leaves, a playful nod to nature that was popular among imperial and elite collectors. Produced likely at Jingdezhen, the epicenter of Chinese porcelain innovation, it reflects the transition from Ming opulence to Qing refinement, when potters revived and expanded glazing techniques after years of turmoil. The vessel's medium—porcel...
About the Artist
Chinese
The artist known simply as "Chinese" in museum records represents the vast tradition of anonymous or unattributed masters in Chinese art history, with 99 works preserved in our collection. These pieces exemplify the enduring legacy of guó huà, or traditional Chinese painting, one of the world's oldest continuous artistic practices. Early life is not well documented, as is common for many practitio...