Basin with birds in a lotus pond

14th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 210
Large bronze basins functioned as water containers for daily use and can be traced back to the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE). While the artist here drew inspiration from the traditional basin form, he modeled the tightly arranged lotus pond with birds after the popular motif used to decorate blue-and-white porcelain since the Yuan dynasty.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 元末明初 蓮池水禽紋銅盆
  • Title: Basin with birds in a lotus pond
  • Period: Yuan (1271–1368)–Ming (1368–1644) dynasty
  • Date: 14th century
  • Culture: China
  • Medium: Copper alloy
  • Dimensions: H. 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm); Diam. 19 in. (48.3 cm)
  • Classification: Metalwork
  • Credit Line: Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, 2019
  • Object Number: 2019.193.10
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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