Read the visual description
This is a vase with a smooth, wide, rounded body that narrows to a small opening at the top. The surface is decorated with soft, muted greens, earthy reds, and hints of pale pink, creating a mottled texture. In the center is a swirling motif of dark red that is mostly circular, made of wavy, curving lines.
National Gallery of Art · Decorative Art
"Beehive" Water Pot
Chinese Qing Dynasty
- Date
- Kangxi period, 1662/1722
- Medium
- porcelain with peachbloom glaze
- Dimensions
- overall: 89 x 12.5 cm (35 1/16 x 4 15/16 in.)
- Classification
- Decorative Art · Ceramic
- Accession number
- 1942.9.515
- Credit line
- Widener Collection
- Time span
- 1651 to 1700
- Department
- CSD
Subjects and terms
- Chinese
- glazed
- Decorative Arts. Part II: Far Eastern Ceramics and Paintings; Persian and Indian Rugs and Carpets
- Kangxi
Provenance
Possibly collection of Lord Kitchener.[1] Thomas B. Clarke [1848-1913], New York; sold 1913[2] to Peter A. B. Widener, Lynnewood Hall, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania; inheritance from Estate of Peter A. B. Widener by gift through power of appointment of Joseph E. Widener, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania; gift 1942 to NGA. [1] Widener collection records (in NGA curatorial files). [2] The provenance published in the NGA systematic catalogue entry (Little et al. 1998, 69) is in error stating the sale from Clarke was in 1916. The pot was purchased by P.A.B. Widener in 1913 according to Widener collection records (in NGA curatorial files).
Inscription
in standard script on the base in underglaze blue in three widely spaced vertical columns of two characters each: Da Qing Kangxi nian zhi (made in the Kangxi reign of the great Qing dynasty)
NGA object ID 1693. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.