Saucer (part of a service)

Unknown Artist

1770–85

Saucer (part of a service) by Unknown Artist

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

Coat of Arms

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...

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