<em>Vase</em>, early 16th century. Cloisonne enamel on copper alloy, 6 5/8 x 3 5/8 in. (16.8 x 9.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Samuel P. Avery, 09.553. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 09.553_SL1.jpg)

Vase, early 16th century. Cloisonne enamel on copper alloy, 6 5/8 x 3 5/8 in. (16.8 x 9.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Samuel P. Avery, 09.553. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 09.553_SL1.jpg)

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Why is Chinese art in a case with Medieval Cloisonné?

It's surprising at first, right? We're most used to seeing things separated by geography. However, cloisonné is a cross-cultural technique! It was first developed in the Mediterranean basin around 1500 B.C.E. It became highly developed in the Byzantine Empire in the tenth and eleventh centuries and appears to have been transmitted to China via the maritime and overland Silk Routes. It starts showing up in China by the early fifteenth century.

Don't miss the small set of objects showing the different stages of cloisonne --- that really helped me to understand how it is made.

Thanks! Enjoying the exhibit and the chance to chat with you.

Vase

Asian Art

On View: Asian Galleries, West, 2nd floor (China)

MEDIUM Cloisonne enamel on copper alloy

Place Made: China

DATES early 16th century

DYNASTY Ming Dynasty

PERIOD Ming Dynasty

DIMENSIONS 6 5/8 x 3 5/8 in. (16.8 x 9.2 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Asian Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 09.553

CREDIT LINE Gift of Samuel P. Avery

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Asian Galleries, West, 2nd floor (China)

CAPTION Vase, early 16th century. Cloisonne enamel on copper alloy, 6 5/8 x 3 5/8 in. (16.8 x 9.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Samuel P. Avery, 09.553. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 09.553_SL1.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 09.553_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.

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Download our app and ask your own questions during your visit. Here are some that others have asked.

Why is Chinese art in a case with Medieval Cloisonné?

Don't miss the small set of objects showing the different stages of cloisonne --- that really helped me to understand how it is made.

Thanks! Enjoying the exhibit and the chance to chat with you.