Cilindrical vase with dragons and floral scrolls c. 1700

This cylindrical vase, now in the Rijksmuseum, was skillfully crafted anonymously in China, using porcelain. Porcelain is more than just a material; it represents a complex interplay of skill, labor, and trade. This vase is no exception. The dragon and floral scroll designs, rendered in a vibrant cobalt blue underglaze, attest to the remarkable level of control the artist had over this medium. The process, from forming the clay on the wheel to the careful application of the glaze and the firing in the kiln, would have involved a team of specialized artisans. The social significance of such an object is undeniable. Porcelain production in China was a highly organized industry, with pieces like these being destined for wealthy merchants and imperial elite. The material qualities of the vase – its smoothness, translucency, and resonance – would have communicated a sense of luxury and refinement. In the end, this vase invites us to consider the distance between the object and the people that made it, and the global economic system that brought it into being.