Artwork preview

Dish with Recumbent Elephant Surrounded by Clouds

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image shows a large, shallow bowl with a wide mouth and a flat base. The bowl is predominantly cream-colored with blue designs. The interior of the bowl features a large blue and cream design depicting a recumbent elephant surrounded by clouds in the center. The elephant faces left. The elephant has a long curved tusk on the right and a short tusk on the left. The body of the elephant is rendered in cream color with blue outlines. The bowl's interior has two concentric blue and cream bands around the central design. The outer band features a swirling cloud pattern, and the inner band has an intricate scroll-like design. The exterior of the bowl is not visible. The background of the image is a plain gray color. The bowl casts a shadow on the surface below it.

Artwork Details

Date
15th–16th century
Medium
Stoneware with underglaze cobalt-blue decoration
Culture
Vietnam
Dimensions
600 × 480 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette