Vessel
1736-1795 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This vessel standing on three legs is an example of cloisonné metalwork (enamel set within metal-banded compartments). It belonged to Major-General Charles Gordon (1833-1885) and was acquired by the V&A when Gordon's estate was sold in 1894.
Charles Gordon fought in the Crimea War, but it was the time he spent in China that first established his military reputation. He served in what is known as the Second Opium War, being a member of the combined British and French forces who in 1860 looted and burned the Yuanming Yuan, or Summer Palace, on the outskirts of Beijing. Gordon recorded that ‘[we] went out, and, after pillaging it, burned the whole place, destroying in a Vandal-like manner most valuable property…. You can scarcely imagine the beauty and magnificence of the places we burnt. It made one’s heart sore to burn them.’ This show of military power forced the Chinese government to give European countries the right of representation in Beijing.
Although Gordon took the part of destroyer in the 1860 campaign, he was soon to become China’s saviour. In 1863 he took command of the foreign-officered ‘Ever Victorious Army’ which helped to defeat the Taiping rebels threatening to overthrow the Qing dynasty. His actions made ‘Chinese Gordon’ a hero at home and in China where he was awarded the ‘yellow jacket’ of the highest military rank and given numerous imperial gifts.
Charles Gordon fought in the Crimea War, but it was the time he spent in China that first established his military reputation. He served in what is known as the Second Opium War, being a member of the combined British and French forces who in 1860 looted and burned the Yuanming Yuan, or Summer Palace, on the outskirts of Beijing. Gordon recorded that ‘[we] went out, and, after pillaging it, burned the whole place, destroying in a Vandal-like manner most valuable property…. You can scarcely imagine the beauty and magnificence of the places we burnt. It made one’s heart sore to burn them.’ This show of military power forced the Chinese government to give European countries the right of representation in Beijing.
Although Gordon took the part of destroyer in the 1860 campaign, he was soon to become China’s saviour. In 1863 he took command of the foreign-officered ‘Ever Victorious Army’ which helped to defeat the Taiping rebels threatening to overthrow the Qing dynasty. His actions made ‘Chinese Gordon’ a hero at home and in China where he was awarded the ‘yellow jacket’ of the highest military rank and given numerous imperial gifts.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Cloisonné enamels on a copper base |
| Brief description | Vessel in the shape of an incense burner, cloisonné enamel on copper with gilding, China, Qianlong period (1736-1795) |
| Physical description | Covered vessel, of cloisonné enamels on copper, with hemispheric body, standing on three short legs of circular section; the outside is decorated with patterns enclosing rosettes. There are loop handles on the rom of the vessel, and on the top of the cover is a knob, pierced and chased with dragons. Eight chased bosses enrich the upper band round the vessel. The outer portrions of the metalwork are gilt. Mark on base. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | 乾隆年制
|
| Object history | Purchased from Christie's, accessioned in 1894. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. This vessel belonged to Major-General Charles Gordon (1833-1885) and was acquired by the V&A when Gordon's estate was sold in 1894. Gordon served in the combined British and French army who plundered and destroyed the Yuanming Yuan, or Summer Palace, of the Chinese emperors in 186, so it is possible this object was one of the many pieces looted from the palace. However, Gordon later went on to lead the ‘Ever Victorious Army’ which helped to defeat the Taiping rebels threatening to overthrow the Qing dynasty, so the vessel may have been one of the imperial gifts he was given. ;; |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This vessel standing on three legs is an example of cloisonné metalwork (enamel set within metal-banded compartments). It belonged to Major-General Charles Gordon (1833-1885) and was acquired by the V&A when Gordon's estate was sold in 1894. Charles Gordon fought in the Crimea War, but it was the time he spent in China that first established his military reputation. He served in what is known as the Second Opium War, being a member of the combined British and French forces who in 1860 looted and burned the Yuanming Yuan, or Summer Palace, on the outskirts of Beijing. Gordon recorded that ‘[we] went out, and, after pillaging it, burned the whole place, destroying in a Vandal-like manner most valuable property…. You can scarcely imagine the beauty and magnificence of the places we burnt. It made one’s heart sore to burn them.’ This show of military power forced the Chinese government to give European countries the right of representation in Beijing. Although Gordon took the part of destroyer in the 1860 campaign, he was soon to become China’s saviour. In 1863 he took command of the foreign-officered ‘Ever Victorious Army’ which helped to defeat the Taiping rebels threatening to overthrow the Qing dynasty. His actions made ‘Chinese Gordon’ a hero at home and in China where he was awarded the ‘yellow jacket’ of the highest military rank and given numerous imperial gifts. |
| Bibliographic reference | Kerr, Rose, ed. T.T. Tsui Gallery of Chinese Art Art and Design. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1991, pp. 26-27. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 13-1894 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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