Saucer (part of a service)
Unknown Artist
1770–85
Medium
Hard-paste porcelain
Dimensions
Diameter: 4 15/16 in. (12.5 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Porcelain-Export
Culture
Chinese, for British market
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Helena Woolworth McCann Collection, Gift of Winfield Foundation, 1951
Accession Number
51.86.182
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant saucer, crafted in China between 1770 and 1785 specifically for the British market, exemplifies the pinnacle of 18th-century export porcelain. Made from durable hard-paste porcelain—a high-fired, translucent material prized for its strength and fine white body—the piece measures just under 5 inches in diameter, perfect for a dainty tea service. As part of a larger matched set, it reflects the booming Sino-European trade, where Chinese kilns in Jingdezhen produced vast quantities of luxury ceramics tailored to Western tastes. A standout feature is its coat of arms, meticulously pa...