Candlestick
1736-1795 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
One of the most vivid visual records of the trade and cultural exchange between the Chinese on the one hand, and Western Europeans on the other, is provided by the ceramic sculptures and painted wares that each created depicting the other. These are sometimes loaded with cultural values and could be based on direct observation or prints.
This figure, however, is based on traditional figurine candle holders (e.g. see V&A FE.23-1978). The figure has been modified to accentuate the other-ness of the foreign woman (she has ginger coloured short hair, and unlike depictions of female Chinese figures her shoes are exposed under her skirt), and the figure is modelled in a tribute bearing posture.
This figure, however, is based on traditional figurine candle holders (e.g. see V&A FE.23-1978). The figure has been modified to accentuate the other-ness of the foreign woman (she has ginger coloured short hair, and unlike depictions of female Chinese figures her shoes are exposed under her skirt), and the figure is modelled in a tribute bearing posture.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Porcelain painted in overglaze enamels and gilding |
| Brief description | Candlestick, in the form of a European female figure, porcelain painted in overglaze enamels in the famille rose palette and gilding, China, Qing dynasty, Qianlong period (1736-1795) |
| Physical description | Candlestick, in the form of a woman figure, porcelain painted in overglaze enamels in the famille rose palette and gilding. She is in European dress and has short red hair. In her left hand she holds a bowl, in her right a cup in the form of a lotus flower. |
| Dimensions |
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| 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. |
| Production | Register |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | One of the most vivid visual records of the trade and cultural exchange between the Chinese on the one hand, and Western Europeans on the other, is provided by the ceramic sculptures and painted wares that each created depicting the other. These are sometimes loaded with cultural values and could be based on direct observation or prints. This figure, however, is based on traditional figurine candle holders (e.g. see V&A FE.23-1978). The figure has been modified to accentuate the other-ness of the foreign woman (she has ginger coloured short hair, and unlike depictions of female Chinese figures her shoes are exposed under her skirt), and the figure is modelled in a tribute bearing posture. |
| Other number | Loan no. 2469 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.1478-1910 |
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| Record created | December 22, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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