Vase (one of a pair)

Art Historical Context

This delicate vase, one of a pair,ails from the pioneering Claudius Innocentius du Paquier period at the Vienna Porcelain Manufactory, around 1725. Standing just 5⅝ inches tall, it exemplifies early Austrian hard-paste porcelain—a technical marvel achieved through high-temperature firing, mirroring the prized Chinese formulas that European makers raced to replicate. Founded by entrepreneur du Paquier in 1718, the factory was among the first outside Germany to produce this translucent, resonant material, marking Austria's entry into the competitive world of luxury ceramics. Adorned with motifs of dragons, flowers, and trees, the vase reflects the era's chinoiserie craze, where exotic Asian influences blended with European craftsmanship. These overglaze enamel decorations showcase the factory's bold experimentation with vibrant designs, often inspired by Oriental exports. As part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection—gifted from The Hans Syz Collection in 1995—this piece highlights Vienna's role in democratizing porcelain artistry, transforming everyday vessels into status symbols for 18th-century elites. Visitors, pause to appreciate how such small-scale wonders fueled a porcelain fever across Europe, bridging Eastern traditions with Western innovation.

About the Artist

Claudius Innocentius Du Paquier period|Vienna ( |Austrian) · |1718 – |1744

|1718–1744