Bowl thumbnail 1
Bowl thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 136, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Bowl

ca. 1710-1720 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In the early 1680s the colour palette of enamels was expanded and perfected with the addition of a new translucent green. Porcelain decorated in this new palette of either green, blue, red, yellow, aubergine, brown and black enamels is known as yingcai in Chinese (strong colours) or wucai (five colours). Within Europe the palette acquired the name famille verte to reflect the predominance of green in the designs.
On this vase, the combined motifs of mandarin ducks with lotus plants was particularly auspicious and symbolised a harmonious marriage and many sons.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Porcelain decorated in overglaze enamels
Brief description
Bowl, porcelain decorated in overglaze enamels; China, Jingdezhen, Qing dynasty, ca. 1710-1720
Physical description
Porcelain bowl painted with enamel colours depicting lotuses, bamboo, water, ducks and other birds. Inside, painted with small red flowers and two butterflies.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 17.2cm
  • Height: 8.5cm
Styles
Marks and inscriptions
Kangxi mark on base
Credit line
Bequeathed by H.B. Harris
Subjects depicted
Summary
In the early 1680s the colour palette of enamels was expanded and perfected with the addition of a new translucent green. Porcelain decorated in this new palette of either green, blue, red, yellow, aubergine, brown and black enamels is known as yingcai in Chinese (strong colours) or wucai (five colours). Within Europe the palette acquired the name famille verte to reflect the predominance of green in the designs.
On this vase, the combined motifs of mandarin ducks with lotus plants was particularly auspicious and symbolised a harmonious marriage and many sons.
Bibliographic references
  • Kerr, Rose. Chinese Ceramics: Porcelain of the Qing Dynasty 1644-1911. London: V&A, 1986, p.15
  • Lu p.374
Collection
Accession number
C.120-1929

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Record createdAugust 27, 2004
Record URL
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