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The sculpture is a bowl-shaped piece with a small opening at the top. It is predominantly a muted reddish-pink color with areas of darker red speckles and is made from a ceramic material. The surface of the bowl features an embossed or carved design that incorporates a swirling pattern. The glossy finish gives the sculpture a refined appearance, and its compact size makes it appear similar in scale to a decorative tabletop item or pottery.
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The sculpture is a bowl-shaped piece with a small opening at the top. It is predominantly a muted reddish-pink color with areas of darker red speckles and is made from a ceramic material. The surface of the bowl features an embossed or carved design that incorporates a swirling pattern. The glossy finish gives the sculpture a refined appearance, and its compact size makes it appear similar in scale to a decorative tabletop item or pottery.

National Gallery of Art · Decorative Art

"Beehive" Water Pot

Chinese Qing Dynasty

Date
Kangxi period, 1662/1722
Medium
porcelain with peachbloom glaze
Dimensions
overall: 8.8 x 12.7 cm (3 7/16 x 5 in.)
Classification
Decorative Art · Ceramic
Accession number
1972.43.15
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
  • glazed
  • Decorative Arts. Part II: Far Eastern Ceramics and Paintings; Persian and Indian Rugs and Carpets
  • Kangxi
Provenance

Harry G. Steele [1881-1942], Pasadena; his widow, Grace C. Steele [d. 1974]; gift 1972 to NGA.

Inscription

in standard script on the base in underglaze blue in three columns of two characters each: Da Qing Kangxi nian zhi (made in the Kangxi reign of the great Qing dynasty)

NGA object ID 53322. 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.