Vase with openwork pattern of flowers

mid-18th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 221

This exquisite vase is among the finest enamel wares produced by the imperial porcelain factory in the eighteenth century. The then-newly invented pink enamel is a colorful ground for the flower scrolls that frame the four roundels featuring auspicious plants. The Nandina bush (nantianzhu), Narcissus flowers (shuixian), and Ganoderma mushrooms (magic fungus or lingzhi) serve as a visual pun for the phrase “heavenly immortals’ greeting of longevity” (tianxian zhishou). Not only found on porcelain, the floral openwork design was also popular on enameled copper alloy works.

Artwork Details

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Exhibition History

清乾隆景德鎮窯粉彩錦地開光天仙芝壽花卉紋連座瓶
Title: Vase with openwork pattern of flowers
Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong mark and period (1736–95)
Date: mid-18th century
Culture: China
Medium: Porcelain painted in overglaze enamels (Jingdezhen ware)
Dimensions: H. with stand: 8 in. (20.3 cm); Diam. 6 in. (15.2 cm); Diam. of rim 3 1/16 in. (7.8 cm); Diam. of foot 4 in. (10.2 cm)
Classification: Ceramics
Credit Line: Mr. and Mrs. Isaac D. Fletcher Collection, Bequest of Isaac D. Fletcher, 1917
Object Number: 17.120.198
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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