Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 145

Vase

1736-1795 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The kilns of Jingdezhen in south-east China excelled in the production of a large range of coloured glazes during the 18th century. Some were revivals of ancient techniques, others were new combinations and variations in colour.

This vase is decorated with an opaque low-fired glaze commonly known as 'Robin's egg', which was produced from copper oxide and opacified with arsenic. The name probably derives from the distinctive freckles on the surface resembling the bird's eggs. A few examples of glazes with similar mottled effects dated to the Ming dynasty have been found in Jingdezhen, and it is possible that this glaze was a Qing revival of an earlier and very rare experiment.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Porcelain with Robin's egg glaze
Brief description
Vase, porcelain with 'robin's egg' glaze, China, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period (1736-1795)
Physical description
Porcelain vase in baluster form, covered with an opaque turquoise-green glaze with mottled effects.
Dimensions
  • Height: 24.8cm
  • Diameter: 11.7cm
Styles
Gallery label
Glazed vase China, 1736–95. With ‘robin’s egg’ glaze Museum nos. 297-1905, W.G. Gulland Gift(September 2009)
Credit line
Given by W.G. Gulland, Esq.
Object history
Given by Mr. W. G. Gulland, accessioned in 1905. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Production
from label
Summary
The kilns of Jingdezhen in south-east China excelled in the production of a large range of coloured glazes during the 18th century. Some were revivals of ancient techniques, others were new combinations and variations in colour.

This vase is decorated with an opaque low-fired glaze commonly known as 'Robin's egg', which was produced from copper oxide and opacified with arsenic. The name probably derives from the distinctive freckles on the surface resembling the bird's eggs. A few examples of glazes with similar mottled effects dated to the Ming dynasty have been found in Jingdezhen, and it is possible that this glaze was a Qing revival of an earlier and very rare experiment.
Collection
Accession number
297-1905

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Record createdDecember 11, 2008
Record URL
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