Powder horn
18th–19th century
Medium
Soft-paste porcelain
Dimensions
6 1/2 × 5 in. (16.5 × 12.7 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Porcelain
Culture
French, Vincennes
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of R. Thornton Wilson, in memory of Florence Ellsworth Wilson, 1950
Accession Number
50.211.179
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite powder horn, crafted by the renowned Vincennes Manufactory in during the 18th–19th century, transforms a utilitarian military and hunting accessory into a delicate work of art. Made from soft-paste porcelain—a European formula blending clay, glass frit, and other materials to mimic true Chinese porcelain before hard-paste techniques were perfected—the piece measures a compact 6½ × 5 inches. Originally used to dispense gunpowder for firearms, this luxury version likely served as a decorative objet d'art for affluent collectors, blending functionality with opulence. Vincennes, th...