Jar with a Mythical Qilin, Lion, and Elephant

Gallery 339, Asian Art, third floor (Hollis Baldeck Gallery)

Main Building

Jar with a Mythical Qilin, Lion, and Elephant

Late 1600s

Artist/maker unknown, Chinese

Many European royals became avid collectors of Chinese porcelain, including Augustus the Strong (1670-1733), elector of Saxony and king of Poland. This jar, formerly in Augustus's collection, exemplifies the virtuoso technical and artistic abilities of the Kangxi period Chinese potters. On a pale green ground-which inspired the European name for the ware, famille verte-the artist has depicted three animals: a lion, an elephant, and a mythical qilin. While the artist who decorated this piece is unknown, many court painters were employed by the porcelain factory established by the Kangxi emperor, himself a devoted collector of these polychrome wares.

Gallery 339, Asian Art, third floor (Hollis Baldeck Gallery)

Object Details

Title:

Jar with a Mythical Qilin, Lion, and Elephant

Date:

Late 1600s

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Chinese

Medium:

Porcelain with underglaze blue, polychrome enamel, and gilt decoration (Jingdezhen ware)

Dimensions:

22 1/8 x 12 3/8 inches (56.2 x 31.4 cm)

Classification:

Containers

Credit Line:

The Alfred and Margaret Caspary Memorial Gift, 1955

Accession Number:

1955-50-75a,b

Geography:

Made in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, China, Asia

Context:

Dynasty: Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) Period: Kangxi Period (1662-1722)

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Gallery 339, Asian Art, third floor (Hollis Baldeck Gallery)

Main Building

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