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

Plate

ca. 1790 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

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 or with specific decorative motifs, including coat of arms, monograms and inscriptions. The East India trading companies supplied Chinese potters of models and patterns to copy.

This dish, produced at the kilns of Jingdezhen in southeast China in the late 18th century, was made specifically for export. It is painted with several alternative border and armorial designs, samples of the manufacturer's stock of decorative styles and patterns, which could be selected by the European customers.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Porcelain decorated in polychrome enamels and gilding
Brief description
Armorial porcelain. Porcelain pattern plate, one of a series, decorated in polychrome enamels and gilding, China, Qing dynasty, ca. 1790
Physical description
Porcelain pattern plate, one of a series, showing the manufacturer's stock of designs. Decorated in polychrome enamels and gilding, in the middle a blank shield with an ermine cloak and a medallion containing 'FM' in monogram, surrounded by a double border of pattern diapers. Between the borders inserted at the cardinal points with the patterns numbered 17, 18, 19 and 20.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 24.8cm
Styles
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'FM' in monogram within a medallion on the front
  • '17, 18, 19, 20' round the rim
  • 'Synchong FM' in black (Mark)
Gallery label
Dinner plate with English arms, and pattern plate China, (41) about 1728; (42) about 1795 The coat of arms is that of an English merchant. The pattern plate, advertising various decorative styles, shows alternative border and armorial designs. Museum nos. FE.43-1978, given by Mr P. Cooke; C.120-1923, given by Mr R.A. Pfungst(September 2009)
Credit line
Given by Mr R.A. Pfungst
Production
Attribution date taken from the inventory record
Subjects depicted
Summary
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 or with specific decorative motifs, including coat of arms, monograms and inscriptions. The East India trading companies supplied Chinese potters of models and patterns to copy.

This dish, produced at the kilns of Jingdezhen in southeast China in the late 18th century, was made specifically for export. It is painted with several alternative border and armorial designs, samples of the manufacturer's stock of decorative styles and patterns, which could be selected by the European customers.
Bibliographic references
  • Lloyd Hyde, J.A. Oriental Lowestoft New York: C. Scribner's Sons, 1936, p. 12
  • Phillips, John Goldsmith China-trade porcelain Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1956, fig. 22
Collection
Accession number
C.120-1923

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Record createdDecember 30, 2008
Record URL
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