Jar with the emblem of the Order of Saint Augustine

Chinese, made for export

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 201


This hexagonal jar’s surface is divided into pentagonal fields that feature the double-headed eagle and pierced heart of the Augustinians, as well as pairs of facing lions, peacocks, elephants, and pine trees with birds. The prevalence of the Catholic order’s device, also found on Chinese textiles, acknowledges the prominent role played by the Augustinians in the Spanish Pacific as both religious and imperial agents—active not only as missionaries, but also as mariners, scholars, and diplomats.

Jar with the emblem of the Order of Saint Augustine, Porcelain painted with cobalt blue under a transparent glaze, Chinese, made for export

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.