Pitcher
Unknown Artist
1830–70
Medium
Parian porcelain
Dimensions
4 3/8 x 3 1/8 x 3 1/4 in. (11.1 x 7.9 x 8.3 cm)
Classification
Pitcher
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Dr. Charles W. Green, 1947
Accession Number
47.90.19
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate **Pitcher**, crafted between 1830 and 1870, exemplifies American Parian porcelain—a fine, unglazed bisque ware prized for its smooth, marble-like texture that mimicked costly Parian marble sculptures. Standing just 4⅜ inches tall, this petite vessel from an unknown American artist likely served both practical and decorative purposes in middle-class homes, blending everyday utility with elegant ornamentation. The grapes motif, suggested by its tagging, evokes themes of abundance and the vine, a popular neoclassical symbol in 19th-century design. Parian porcelain emerged in the mi...