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

Candlestick

1662-1722 (made), 1740-1760 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

From the first decades of the eighteenth century the kilns of Jingdezhen in China increasingly produced table ware and decorative items requested by European clients as 'special orders'. Figure of animals featured prominently during this period, when they became part of the elegant interiors of European residences.

Several objects were further enriched by metal fittings added in Europe, which often transformed their original function, such as in the case of this pair of candlesticks. Gilt bronze mounts, also known as 'ormolu', were the most popular on the French market between 1740 and 1760, being applied to Sèvres porcelain, East Asian porcelain and other ceramics.

These candlesticks belong to an extraordinary bequest made to the Museum by John Jones, a former tailor and army clothier, after his death in 1882. Most of the objects in his porcelain collection were made in France between 1700 and 1790.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Porcelain with turquoise glaze and gilt bronze mounts
Brief description
Candlestick in the shape of a parrot on rock, Jingdezhen, China, Kangxi reign period (1662-1722), with gilt bronze mounts, France, ca. 1740-60
Physical description
Candlestick, one of a pair, composed of a porcelain figure representing a parrot on rock, decorated with turquoise and blue glazes, the beak left unglazed, and a gilt chased bronze mount with two brackets for candles
Dimensions
  • Height: 22cm
Styles
Credit line
Bequeathed by John Jones
Production
Gilt bronze mounts made later in France, ca. 1740-1760.
Subject depicted
Summary
From the first decades of the eighteenth century the kilns of Jingdezhen in China increasingly produced table ware and decorative items requested by European clients as 'special orders'. Figure of animals featured prominently during this period, when they became part of the elegant interiors of European residences.

Several objects were further enriched by metal fittings added in Europe, which often transformed their original function, such as in the case of this pair of candlesticks. Gilt bronze mounts, also known as 'ormolu', were the most popular on the French market between 1740 and 1760, being applied to Sèvres porcelain, East Asian porcelain and other ceramics.

These candlesticks belong to an extraordinary bequest made to the Museum by John Jones, a former tailor and army clothier, after his death in 1882. Most of the objects in his porcelain collection were made in France between 1700 and 1790.
Associated object
Collection
Accession number
813-1882

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Record createdAugust 24, 2010
Record URL
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