Presentation Bowl with Design of Mating Birds
Unknown Artist
15th–16th century
Medium
Stoneware with red, green, yellow, overglaze enamels
Dimensions
H. 3 in. (7.6 cm); Diam. 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture
Vietnam
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Betty and John R. Menke, 1992
Accession Number
1992.72.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
This stunning *Presentation Bowl with Design of Mating Birds crafted in Vietnam during the 15th–16th century, exemplifies the refined artistry of Southeast Asian ceramics. Made of stoneware and adorned with vibrant red, green, and yellow overglaze enamels, the wide, shallow bowl measures just 3 inches high but spans an impressive 14½ inches in diameter—perfect for ceremonial displays or offerings. The intricate motifs of mating birds amid lush leaves evoke themes of fertility, harmony, and nature's abundance, common in Vietnamese decorative arts of the Le dynasty era. Overglaze enameling, a s...