Basin thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 145

Basin

ca. 1745-50 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This basin was produced at the kilns of Jingdezhen in southeast China in the mid 18th century, and made specifically for export. The shape copies European handbasins made of metalwork.

In the 18th century Europeans greatly admired the white and resistant body of Chinese porcelain, available at low cost, but in addition to traditional shapes and designs, they also ordered tableware and household objects made in imitation of western items. The East India trading companies supplied models and patterns from Europe to Chinese potters, who could copy them using their skills and local resources.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Porcelain painted in overglaze enamels and gilding
Brief description
Porcelain basin painted in overglaze enamels in the famille rose palette and gilding with cockerels and peonies, China, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period (1736-1795)
Physical description
Porcelain basin with iron brown rim, in the form of a scallop shell on three small feet. Painted in overglaze enamels in the famille rose palette, on the inside two cockerels perched on rock with peonies growing from behind, surrounded by a band of floral scroll on black and a pink trellis diaper. On the outside, peonies and other flowers with diaper borders.
Dimensions
  • Height: 10.8cm
  • Width: 38.7cm
Styles
Gallery label
Ewer and hand basin copying European metalwork shapes China, 1745–50 Museum nos. 500-1875; C.1473-1910, Salting Bequest(September 2009)
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
This basin was produced at the kilns of Jingdezhen in southeast China in the mid 18th century, and made specifically for export. The shape copies European handbasins made of metalwork.

In the 18th century Europeans greatly admired the white and resistant body of Chinese porcelain, available at low cost, but in addition to traditional shapes and designs, they also ordered tableware and household objects made in imitation of western items. The East India trading companies supplied models and patterns from Europe to Chinese potters, who could copy them using their skills and local resources.
Bibliographic reference
Lehnert, Georg. Das Porzellan... mit 260 Abbildungen zum Teil in Buntdruck.. Bielefeld und Leipzig: Velhagen & Klasing, 1902, abb. 18.
Other number
Loan no. 18
Collection
Accession number
C.1473-1910

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdDecember 22, 2008
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest