Jar with Carp in a Lotus Pond
明嘉靖五彩鱼藻纹罐
A masterpiece of Jiajing wucai porcelain: carp gliding through tangled lotus stems, painted in five overglaze enamels above an underglaze cobalt outline. The carp (鲤, lǐ) puns on profit (利) and is one of the densest auspicious symbols in Chinese decorative art.
Object Facts
- Period
- Ming dynasty, Jiajing mark and period (1522–1566)
- Date
- mid-16th century
- Medium
- Porcelain painted in underglaze cobalt blue and overglaze polychrome enamels (Jingdezhen ware)
- Dimensions
- H. 23.2 cm
- Held by
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York, USA - Accession
- 17.127.2
Rogers Fund, 1917
Why it matters
Jiajing emperor was a Daoist mystic, and his kilns experimented endlessly with chromatic effects to please him. This carp jar shows the Jingdezhen palette at its full polychrome maturity — a generation before the Wanli reign pushed the same techniques to extravagant excess.
How it travelled
Acquired by the Met via the Rogers Fund in 1917, when systematic Western collecting of Ming polychrome porcelain was at its height. Many such pieces left China through the Beijing dealer markets after the 1900 Boxer-era looting.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I see Jar with Carp in a Lotus Pond?+
Jar with Carp in a Lotus Pond is held by the The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, USA. Accession number 17.127.2. Online catalogue record: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/42549.
When was Jar with Carp in a Lotus Pond created?+
Jar with Carp in a Lotus Pond dates to mid-16th century, during the Ming dynasty, Jiajing mark and period (1522–1566).
What is Jar with Carp in a Lotus Pond made of?+
Jar with Carp in a Lotus Pond is a lidded jar executed in porcelain painted in underglaze cobalt blue and overglaze polychrome enamels (jingdezhen ware), measuring H. 23.2 cm.
How did Jar with Carp in a Lotus Pond end up at the The Met?+
Acquired by the Met via the Rogers Fund in 1917, when systematic Western collecting of Ming polychrome porcelain was at its height. Many such pieces left China through the Beijing dealer markets after the 1900 Boxer-era looting.
Can I reuse the photograph of Jar with Carp in a Lotus Pond?+
Yes. The The Met has released the image under Creative Commons Zero (CC0), so it is free for any use, commercial or non-commercial, with no attribution required (though attribution is appreciated).
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