Coffee Pot and Lid thumbnail 1
Coffee Pot and Lid thumbnail 2
+1
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Europe 1600-1815, Room 7, The Sheikha Amna Bint Mohammed Al Thani Gallery

Coffee Pot and Lid

ca. 1700-1710 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This coffee pot was probably commissioned by European traders, or their clients, from the porcelain factories of Jingdezhen in southern China. Modelled on silver and pewter prototypes brought from Europe, the pieces octagonal form is distinctly European in shape. Special private orders often included objects with shapes and designs copied from European models and drawings, which were brought to China as reference material. The lion-shaped knob on top of the lid is Chinese in origin, while the mythological figures on the lower section of the vessel body are European. The mythological figures in the medallions are probably representations of Europa and the Bull, when the god Jupiter, on falling in love with Europa, transforms into a white bull and abducts her. The designs were probably copied from prints sent to China in the late seventeenth century.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Coffee Pot
  • Lid
Materials and techniques
Porcelain painted in underglaze blue
Brief description
Porcelain coffee pot painted in underglaze blue from a Delft model, China, Qing dynasty, ca. 1700-1710
Physical description
Porcelain coffee pot and lid of European silver shape, with octagonal, tapering body and straight spout bent near the tip and with an 'S'shaped connection to the body; the handle is simple, the base convex and the three feet rounded. The lid's knob is lion-shaped. It is painted in underglaze blue with landscapes imitating pastoral scenes, and elaborate pendant medallions containing mythological creatures. Hatched diaper and floral scrolls on the spout and handle.
Dimensions
  • Height: 295mm
  • Width: 140mm (foot)
  • Width: 210mm (across spout and handle) (Note: Measured for Europe 1600-1800)
Styles
Gallery label
Coffee pot Porcelain with decoration in underglaze blue Probably copied from a model by Lambert van Eenhoorn, owner of a ceramics factory at Delft in the Netherlands. About 1700-1720(1987)
Credit line
Basil Ionides Bequest
Subjects depicted
Summary
This coffee pot was probably commissioned by European traders, or their clients, from the porcelain factories of Jingdezhen in southern China. Modelled on silver and pewter prototypes brought from Europe, the pieces octagonal form is distinctly European in shape. Special private orders often included objects with shapes and designs copied from European models and drawings, which were brought to China as reference material. The lion-shaped knob on top of the lid is Chinese in origin, while the mythological figures on the lower section of the vessel body are European. The mythological figures in the medallions are probably representations of Europa and the Bull, when the god Jupiter, on falling in love with Europa, transforms into a white bull and abducts her. The designs were probably copied from prints sent to China in the late seventeenth century.
Bibliographic references
  • Craig p. 60, fig. 40.
  • Lu p.121
Collection
Accession number
C.71:1, 2-1963

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Record createdOctober 2, 2008
Record URL
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