Read the visual description
This is a vase featuring a depiction of blooming flowers on a gnarled tree branch. The vase's surface is predominantly black, with detailed white and pale-yellow blossoms and light brown branches. At the bottom are dark green shapes, similar to moss crawling up the side of the tree. The vase appears glossy, and the lip at the top of its narrow neck is flared.
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: 70.2 x 27.6 cm (27 5/8 x 10 7/8 in.)
- Classification
- Decorative Art · Ceramic
- Accession number
- 1942.9.628
- Credit line
- Widener Collection
- Time span
- 1651 to 1700
- Department
- CSD
Subjects and terms
- Chinese
- Decorative Arts. Part II: Far Eastern Ceramics and Paintings; Persian and Indian Rugs and Carpets
- Kangxi
- famille noire enamels
Provenance
Thomas B. Clarke [1848-1931], New York; sold 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 on the base in underglaze blue 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 1806. 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.