Punch Bowl
Unknown Artist
1785–1800
Medium
Porcelain
Dimensions
H. 6 in. (15.2 cm); Diam. 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm)
Classification
Punch bowl
Culture
Chinese
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of David Wagstaff Jr., 1963
Accession Number
63.50
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant porcelain punch bowl, crafted in China between 1785 and 1800, exemplifies the exquisite export wares that captivated Western markets during the late 18 century. Standing just 6 inches tall with a generous 14½-inch diameter, it was designed for serving punch—a fashionable mixed drink popular at American social gatherings. Its presence in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing highlights how Chinese luxury goods became integral to early American domestic life, often gracing the tables of prosperous households. Chinese porcelain masters achieved remarkable feats with this me...