Vase with European Figures
second half of the 18th century
Medium
Porcelain
Dimensions
Figures: H.: 24.1 cm (9 1/2 in.); 41.6 × 31.8 × 16.9 cm (16 3/8 × 12 1/2 × 6 5/8 in.)
Classification
vase
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
257358
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Two figures representing European merchants kneel at either side of this vase. Although it was made in China at a time of intense European demand for Asian porcelain, its decoration is not characteristic of export wares but instead of pieces made for the Chinese imperial court. The vase may have been made for the Qianlong emperor as a tribute to European admiration for Chinese porcelain.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...