Small covered wine pot or teapot

Art Historical Context

This delicate small covered wine pot or teapot, crafted in China during the Kangxi (1662–1722), exemplifies the pinnacle Qing dynasty porcelain artistry. Made from fine porcelain and painted in underglaze blue—a technique where cobalt pigment is applied to the unfired clay before a transparent glaze is added and the piece is fired at high temperatures—this vessel stands just 3½ inches tall with its lid. The subtle blue hues, often featuring floral motifs as suggested by its tags, create timeless, elegant designs that seem to float beneath the glossy surface. Produced likely at the imperial kilns of Jingdezhen, the world's porcelain capital, such pots were prized for their purity and precision. The Kangxi era marked a renaissance in blue-and-white porcelain, blending Ming dynasty traditions with innovative refinement, making these objects symbols of sophistication for elite tea or wine ceremonies. Their small scale hints at personal, intimate use, perfect for savoring aromatic brews. Now part of the Robert Lehman Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (acquired 1975), this piece invites us to appreciate China's enduring ceramic legacy—where functionality meets poetic beauty in every petal and curve.

About the Artist

Chinese

The artist known simply as "Chinese" in museum records represents the vast tradition of anonymous or unattributed masters in Chinese art history, with 99 works preserved in our collection. These pieces exemplify the enduring legacy of guó huà, or traditional Chinese painting, one of the world's oldest continuous artistic practices. Early life is not well documented, as is common for many practitio...