Jar thumbnail 1
Jar thumbnail 2
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Jar

1522-1566 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown (maker)
Place of origin
Jingdezhen (made)

Large lidded jars of this type were used to store water or alcohol and would have used at court during celebratory events. In Chinese traditional culture the word fish (yu) is homophonic with the word for abundance (yu) and is a symbol of marriage and wealth. This example is decorated with waterweed and lotuses in underglaze cobalt blue and fishes in overglaze iron red. The base is painted with the reign mark of the emperor Jiajing (1522-1566).

Object details

Category
Drinking
Object type
Jar
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Jar
  • Lid
Materials and techniques
Porcelain
Porcelain
Glazing
Brief description
Porcelain jar, China, Jingdezhen, Ming dynasty, Jiajing reign (1522-66)
Physical description
Porcelain jar with lid decorated with watery plants in underglaze cobalt blue and fishes in overglaze iron red.
Dimensions
  • Height: 73cm
  • Diameter: 35cm
  • Base diameter: 12.5cm
Style
Ming
Gallery label
(2007)
Large lidded jar for alcohol
Jiajing reign period (1522-1566)
Jiajing mark on base
Jingdezhen kilns, south China

Porcelain painted in cobalt blue and iron red
Museum no. Circ.118-1936
From the Eumorfopoulos collection, purchased with the assistance of The Art Fund, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee [Art Fund logo]
Credit line
Purchased with Art Fund support, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee
Subjects depicted
Fish
Plants
Lotus
Summary
Large lidded jars of this type were used to store water or alcohol and would have used at court during celebratory events. In Chinese traditional culture the word fish (yu) is homophonic with the word for abundance (yu) and is a symbol of marriage and wealth. This example is decorated with waterweed and lotuses in underglaze cobalt blue and fishes in overglaze iron red. The base is painted with the reign mark of the emperor Jiajing (1522-1566).
Bibliographic references
  • Rose Kerr (ed.) Chinese Art and Design. The T.T.Tsui Gallery of Chinese Art. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1991, p. 164, fig. 72
  • Lu p.360
Collection
East Asia Collection
Accession number
CIRC.118-1936

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O14547/jar-unknown/
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