This volume catalogues the National Gallery of Art's collection of Western decorative arts, with a primary focus on Chinese ceramics and carpets. The book draws significantly from the esteemed collections of the Widener and Steele families, detailing Chinese ceramics from the Qing period, encompassing earthenware, stoneware, and polychrome porcelain. It also presents, for the first time, a catalogue of rugs and carpets from the collection of Peter A.B. Widener. This work serves as the second in a series dedicated to documenting the Gallery's holdings in decorative arts.

This catalogue is presented as the second in a series from the National Gallery of Art, focusing on specific aspects of its decorative arts collection. The content highlights significant holdings, particularly Chinese ceramics from the Qing period and carpets from the Widener collection. The work's value lies in its detailed cataloguing and the first-time publication of certain items. It serves as a scholarly resource for those interested in these specific areas of decorative art.