Pitcher

Unknown Artist

1830–70

Pitcher by Unknown Artist

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

Grapes

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...

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