Jar with Winged Animals over Waves

mid-15th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 204
The theme of winged animals, in this case a horse, an elephant, a mongoose, a fish, a rabbit, and two cervids, was most likely inspired by the extraordinary court-sponsored maritime expeditions of the early fifteenth century, in which a Chinese fleet, under the direction of Zheng He (1371–1433), reached the coast of Africa.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Jar with Winged Animals over Waves
  • Period: Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
  • Date: mid-15th century
  • Culture: China
  • Medium: Porcelain with cobalt blue under a transparent glaze (Jingdezhen ware)
  • Dimensions: H. 14 in. (35.6 cm); Diam.14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm); Diam. of rim 8 1/4 in. (21 cm); Diam. of foot 7 5/8 in. (19.4 cm)
  • Classification: Ceramics
  • Credit Line: Purchase, The Vincent Astor Foundation Gift, 2010
  • Object Number: 2010.220
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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