Vase with gentlemen in a landscape (one of a pair)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Early in the twentieth century, under the auspices of Yuan Shikai, some ceramics of surprisingly fine quality were produced at the Jingdezhen kilns of Jiangxi Province. Yuan had been named president of the Chinese Republic in 1912, and his ambitions to become emperor were realized in December 1915, when he "accepted" the throne. His reign was short-lived, however, as he died in June 1916. This pair of vases (with 68.4.1) have mirror-image designs that have been painted over the glaze in sepia and black pigments with minute attention to detail. They are marked on the base with Yuan Shikai's reign title, Hongxian, and they stand as proof of a degree of excellence in ceramic manufacture that is generally unexpected in wares of this period.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art