Vase
Unknown Artist
15th–16th century
Medium
White stoneware with translucent glaze
Dimensions
H. 11 1/2 in. (29.2 cm)
Classification
Ceramics
Culture
Vietnam
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Betty and John R. Menke, 1992
Accession Number
1992.72.4
Art Historical Context
This elegant vase, crafted in Vietnam during the 15th–16th, exemplifies the refined ceramic traditions of the Lê Dynasty era. Standing at 11½ inches (29.2 cm) tall, it is made of white stoneware—a durable, high-fired clay body that provided a smooth, porcelain-like surface prized for its strength and subtle beauty. The translucent glaze, a hallmark of skilled Vietnamese potters, allows light to pass through gently, creating a luminous effect that enhances the vase's graceful form and elevates it beyond mere utility. Vietnam's ceramics from this period reflect a golden age of artistic innovati...