This Chinese vase was initially decorated in red enamel and gilding, but after it was exported to Europe additional decoration in black enamel and gold was applied by Ignaz Preissler (1676–1753). The depiction of “Chinese” figures is typical of chinoiserie, a term used to describe the European fascination with the peoples of Asia and their fanciful evocation in European decorative arts.
Credit: Gift of R. Thornton Wilson, in memory of Florence Ellsworth Wilson, 1954
Early 18th century, decoration c. 1729-32
Hard-paste porcelain (jingdezhen ware)
27.1in
54.147.97
Image and text © Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2019
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permanent collection