Wine Pot
1680-1720 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This elaborate porcelain pouring vessel has a spout shaped like a phoenix's head, and a handle in the form of a serpent-like creature. The body is decorated with a minute design of stylised dragons and cloud scrolls in horizontal bands that were incised on the body before the yellow glaze was applied.
The peculiar shape of this vessel imitates that of an ancient bronze vessel (called a he in Chinese) produced in China between the 7th and the 6th century BC, and used to hold alcohol. The reproduction of an archaic form denotes a taste for antiquities, which was quite popular among the élites in China during the 18th century. Despite the use of the yellow colour, which is usually associated to the emperor, this vessel was not probably intended for court circles.
The peculiar shape of this vessel imitates that of an ancient bronze vessel (called a he in Chinese) produced in China between the 7th and the 6th century BC, and used to hold alcohol. The reproduction of an archaic form denotes a taste for antiquities, which was quite popular among the élites in China during the 18th century. Despite the use of the yellow colour, which is usually associated to the emperor, this vessel was not probably intended for court circles.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Porcelain, with incised decoration under yellow glaze |
| Brief description | Kangxi yellow; Cer, China, Qing, monochrome, yellow Cer, China, Qing, monochrome, yellow |
| Physical description | Globular pouring vessel with a spout shaped like a phoenix's head, handle in the form of a serpent-like creature, and the lid 's knob made in openwork. The design of stylised dragons and cloud scrolls in horizontal bands is incised on the body under the yellow glaze. The shape was taken from archaic bronzes. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label | Wine pot with bird-headed spout
Kangxi reign period
1680-1720
Jingdezhen kilns, south China
Porcelain with yellow glaze
Museum no. C.502-1910
Salting Bequest(2007) |
| Credit line | Salting Bequest |
| Object history | Bequeathed by Mr. George Salting, accessioned in 1910. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This elaborate porcelain pouring vessel has a spout shaped like a phoenix's head, and a handle in the form of a serpent-like creature. The body is decorated with a minute design of stylised dragons and cloud scrolls in horizontal bands that were incised on the body before the yellow glaze was applied. The peculiar shape of this vessel imitates that of an ancient bronze vessel (called a he in Chinese) produced in China between the 7th and the 6th century BC, and used to hold alcohol. The reproduction of an archaic form denotes a taste for antiquities, which was quite popular among the élites in China during the 18th century. Despite the use of the yellow colour, which is usually associated to the emperor, this vessel was not probably intended for court circles. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.502&A-1910 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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