Embracing Color: Enamel in Chinese Decorative Arts, 1300–1900 at The Met Fifth Avenue

Dish with dragons and phoenixes
Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Kangxi mark and period (1662–1722)
Early 18th century
China
Porcelain painted in underglaze cobalt blue and overglaze polychrome enamels (Jingdezhen ware)
Bequest of Edward G. Kennedy, 1932
33.40.71
© The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Embracing Color

Enamel in Chinese Decorative Arts, 1300–1900

Through June 28, 2026

Enamel decoration is a significant element of Chinese decorative arts that has long been overlooked. This exhibition reveals the aesthetic, technical, and cultural achievement of Chinese enamel wares by demonstrating the transformative role of enamel during the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties. The first transformational moment occurred in the late 14th to 15th century, when the introduction of cloisonné enamel from the West, along with the development of porcelain with overglaze enamels, led to a shift away from a monochromatic palette to colorful works. The second transformation occurred in the late 17th to 18th century, when European enameling materials and techniques were brought to the Qing court and more subtle and varied color tones were developed on enamels applied over porcelain, metal, glass, and other mediums. In both moments, Chinese artists did not simply adopt or copy foreign techniques; they actively created new colors and styles that reflected their own taste. The more than 100 objects on view are drawn mainly from The Met collection.

This exhibition is made possible by the Florence and Herbert Irving Fund for Asian Art Exhibitions.

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