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

Vase

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

Many of the ceramic wares produced during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) were destined for export to the West. Many of these export items were decorated either in underglaze blue and or were enamelled over the glaze. The latter type of ware was subdivided in 1862 by the French writer Jacquemart into three 'families': famille verte, famille rose and famille noire depending on the dominant colour. Famille noire was particularly appreciated by western collectors, and very high prices were paid for black glazed vases, like this example. Many of these wares were counterfeits produced to meet the excessive demand, until tastes changed and this type of porcelain ware declined in popularity.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Porcelain, decorated in enamels
Brief description
Porcelain vase, China, Qing dynasty, Kangxi reign (1662-1722)
Physical description
This black glazed vase is of the famille noire type of Qing dynasty ceramics. Flowers are the primary subject, vividly standing out against the black background.
Dimensions
  • Height: 46cm
Styles
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
Many of the ceramic wares produced during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) were destined for export to the West. Many of these export items were decorated either in underglaze blue and or were enamelled over the glaze. The latter type of ware was subdivided in 1862 by the French writer Jacquemart into three 'families': famille verte, famille rose and famille noire depending on the dominant colour. Famille noire was particularly appreciated by western collectors, and very high prices were paid for black glazed vases, like this example. Many of these wares were counterfeits produced to meet the excessive demand, until tastes changed and this type of porcelain ware declined in popularity.
Collection
Accession number
C.1304-1910

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
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