Chinese Pagoda, Artistic ivory sculpture at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, United States
The Chinese Pagoda is an ivory carving with nine tiered levels decorated with small bells and stands roughly 50 centimeters tall. The work displays intricate carved details and tiny architectural elements that recreate a pagoda structure in miniature form.
The carving was created in China during the Qing Dynasty between 1784 and 1792 and later traveled to the United States by ship. It passed through private ownership before being acquired by the museum decades later.
This work shows how Western collectors admired Chinese artistic traditions and architectural forms during the late 1700s. It reflects the era's interest in Eastern design as a symbol of refined taste and cultural sophistication.
The carving is fragile and displayed behind glass, so keep a respectful distance to view it properly. Morning hours offer the best natural light for examining the fine details and the intricate surface work.
The carving mimics the famous Porcelain Pagoda of Nanjing, a real Chinese structure that inspired Western artists and collectors. The miniature format allowed collectors to own a piece inspired by exotic Eastern architecture as a portable artwork.
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