Triple gourd vase (one of a pair)
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Hard-paste porcelain, gilt-bronze mounts
Dimensions
Height: 12 in. (30.5 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Gilt Bronze
Culture
Chinese with French mounts
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Lesley and Emma Sheafer Collection, Bequest of Emma A. Sheafer, 1973
Accession Number
1974.356.228
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant triple gourd vase, of a pair, stands as a captivating example of 18th cross-cultural artistry, blending Chinese hard-paste porcelain with lavish French gilt-bronze. Measuring 12 inches (30.5 cm) in height, its distinctive gourd shape—symbolizing abundance and prosperity in Chinese culture—likely features delicate bird motifs, a common theme in porcelain decoration that celebrates nature's harmony. Crafted during the Qing dynasty, when Chinese export porcelain flooded European markets via maritime trade, the vase's hard-paste body exemplifies the superior kaolin-based formula deve...