Shard (Study Collection)
Unknown Artist
Medium
Blue-and-white porcelain
Dimensions
smallest: 3/4 in. (1.9 cm)–largest: 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture & Period
China · Ming (1368–1644)–Qing (1644–1911) dynasties
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John R. Menke, 1982
Accession Number
1982.464.16
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Asian Art department *Shard (Study Collection)* presents a captivating assortment of blue-and-white porcelain fragments from Ming (1368–4) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties. Ranging from a petite 3/4 inch (1.9 cm) to a more substantial 4 12 inches (11.4 cm), these shards—gifted by Mr. and Mrs. R. Menke in 1982—offer an intimate glimpse into imperial ceramic artistry. Though their exact origins remain unknown, they embody the era's masterful craftsmanship. Blue-and-white porcelain revolutionized Chinese ceramics during the Ming dynasty, with cobalt oxide p...