Not currently on display at the V&A

Bowl

1550-1640 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Zhangzhou (made)
China (made)

Rhinoceros horn was usually employed to make drinking cups and it is rare to find a bowl made of this material. The colour of this piece is particularly fine - a warm brown streaked with black. Rhinoceros horn also appealed to collectors for its tactile qualities, and this bowl shows signs of having been handled repeatedly.


Object details

Category
Food Vessels & Tableware
Object type
Bowl
Materials and techniques
Rhinoceros horn, carved
Rhinoceros Horn
Carved
Brief description
Bowl, carved rhinoceros horn, possibly Zhangzhou, China, Ming dynasty, 1550-1650
Physical description
Rhinoceros horn bowl, flared mouth on a solid pedestal foot, plain with the horn dark brown towards the foot, becoming paler in colour towards the rim, squared scroll incised around the rim and solid pedestal foot.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 15cm
  • Height: 5.2cm
Style
Ming
Gallery label
Bowl Ming dynasty 1550-1640 The Chinese believe that rhinoceros horn is an antidote to poison. For centuries they made bowls and cups out of this material. Carved rhinoceros horn Museum no. FE.28-1983(2007)
Object history
This bowl would have been used for eating and drinking. Previously Garner Loan no.65
Summary
Rhinoceros horn was usually employed to make drinking cups and it is rare to find a bowl made of this material. The colour of this piece is particularly fine - a warm brown streaked with black. Rhinoceros horn also appealed to collectors for its tactile qualities, and this bowl shows signs of having been handled repeatedly.
Bibliographic references
  • Clunas, Craig. Chinese Carving. London: Sun Tree Publishing Ltd in association with the Victoria & Albert Museum, 1996. p. 35, fig. 29.
  • Kerr, Rose (ed). T.T.Tsui Gallery of Chinese Art and Design. London: V&A Publications, 1991. photo p. 157.
  • Rawski, Evelyn S. & Rawson, J. (Eds) China: The Three Emperors, 1662-1795, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2005
Collection
East Asia Collection
Accession number
FE.28-1983

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O14502/bowl-unknown/
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