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The sculpture is of a traditional ceramic vase featuring a bulging body with an elongated, narrow neck. The vase is primarily white and is adorned with an intricate pattern of blue swirling motifs covering the body and neck. The top of the vase has a band with blue calligraphic characters. Made from what appears to be porcelain, this vase displays a high level of craftsmanship typical of historical Asian pottery. Its glossy finish and classic blue-and-white color scheme give it an elegant and timeless look.
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The sculpture is of a traditional ceramic vase featuring a bulging body with an elongated, narrow neck. The vase is primarily white and is adorned with an intricate pattern of blue swirling motifs covering the body and neck. The top of the vase has a band with blue calligraphic characters. Made from what appears to be porcelain, this vase displays a high level of craftsmanship typical of historical Asian pottery. Its glossy finish and classic blue-and-white color scheme give it an elegant and timeless look.

National Gallery of Art · Decorative Art

Bottle Vase

Chinese Qing Dynasty

Date
Kangxi period, 1662/1722
Medium
porcelain with underglaze blue decoration
Dimensions
overall: 14.9 x 10.2 cm (5 7/8 x 4 in.)
Classification
Decorative Art · Ceramic
Accession number
1972.43.9
Credit line
Harry G. Steele Collection, Gift of Grace C. Steele
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
  • underglaze decoration
  • Kangxi
Provenance

(Parish-Watson Gallery, New York); sold to Harry G. Steele [1881-1942], Pasadena; his widow, Grace C. Steele [d. 1974]; gift 1972 to NGA.

Inscription

falsely inscribed in standard script around the neck in underglaze blue in one line of six characters: Da Ming Xuande nian zhi (made in the Xuande reign of the great Ming dynasty)

NGA object ID 53316. 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.