Read the visual description
The sculpture is a decorative vase with two dragon-like handles on either side of its neck. The vase has a bulbous base that narrows into a slender neck, then flares out at the rim. It is made of ceramic with a green glaze, speckled with darker spots. The vase is upright with a symmetrical and balanced design.
National Gallery of Art · Decorative Art
Baluster Vase with Dragon Handles
Chinese Ming Dynasty
- Date
- Wanli period, 1573/1620
- Medium
- porcelain with green glaze
- Dimensions
- overall: 39.9 x 13.9 cm (15 11/16 x 5 1/2 in.)
- Classification
- Decorative Art · Ceramic
- Accession number
- 1942.9.532
- Credit line
- Widener Collection
- Time span
- 1551 to 1600
- Department
- CSD
Subjects and terms
- Chinese
- glazed
- Decorative Arts. Part II: Far Eastern Ceramics and Paintings; Persian and Indian Rugs and Carpets
- Wanli
Provenance
(S. Bing, Paris); James A. Garland [d. 1901/1902], New York; sold 1902 to J. Pierpont Morgan [1837-1913], New York; (Duveen Brothers, New York); sold 1915 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.
Inscription
in calligraphy in a style consistent with Wanli in a horizontal white reserve panel under the lip in dark, vivid underglaze cobalt blue: Da Ming Wanli nian zhi (made in the Wanli reign of the great Ming Dynasty)
NGA object ID 1710. 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.