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The sculpture is a porcelain vase featuring an intricate design of blossoming cherry branches. The vase has a predominantly black glaze background, with the cherry blossoms in white and light green. The material is porcelain, providing a smooth, glossy finish. The vase has a flared rim, elongated neck, bulbous body, and a narrowed base. The branches are painted to suggest depth and texture, giving a natural, flowing composition that winds elegantly around the vase. The detailed craftsmanship draws attention, allowing viewers to appreciate it from different perspectives.
Read the visual description

The sculpture is a porcelain vase featuring an intricate design of blossoming cherry branches. The vase has a predominantly black glaze background, with the cherry blossoms in white and light green. The material is porcelain, providing a smooth, glossy finish. The vase has a flared rim, elongated neck, bulbous body, and a narrowed base. The branches are painted to suggest depth and texture, giving a natural, flowing composition that winds elegantly around the vase. The detailed craftsmanship draws attention, allowing viewers to appreciate it from different perspectives.

National Gallery of Art · Decorative Art

Baluster Vase

Chinese Qing Dynasty

Date
Kangxi period, 1662/1722
Medium
porcelain with famille noire enamels on the biscuit
Dimensions
overall (height): 67.4 cm (26 9/16 in.)
Classification
Decorative Art · Ceramic
Accession number
1942.9.625
Credit line
Widener Collection
Time span
1651 to 1700
Department
CSD
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • Chinese
  • Decorative Arts. Part II: Far Eastern Ceramics and Paintings; Persian and Indian Rugs and Carpets
  • Kangxi
  • famille noire enamels
Provenance

J. Pierpont Morgan [1837-1913], New York, by 1904. (Duveen Brothers, New York and London); 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

falsely inscribed in standard script on the base in underglaze blue within a double circle in three columns of two characters each: Da Ming Chenghua nian zhi (made in the Chenghua reign of the great Ming dynasty)

NGA object ID 1803. 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.