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

Vase

1700-10 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This miniature vase was produced at the kilns of Jingdezhen, in south-east China, during the early 18th century, when the fashion for Chinese porcelain was at its highest in Europe. Jingdezhen was at the time the most important ceramic centre in China, supplying both the domestic and export markets.

Miniature vases, produced in a great variety of shapes in China, were privately purchased by European merchants and became particularly popular between the end of the 17th century and the first half of the 18th century, when they were used as decorative items on wall brackets, in cabinets or around mirrors in the residences of aristocrats and wealthy people. One of the largest collection of Chinese porcelain known in Europe belonged to August the Strong of Saxony (d. 1733), who owned more than 21,000 pieces.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Porcelain painted in underglaze blue
Brief description
Porcelain miniature vase painted in underglaze blue, Jingdezhen, China, Kangxi reign (1662-1722)
Physical description
Porcelain miniature vase, pear-shaped with elongated neck. Painted in underglaze blue, round the neck with four formal borders of diaperwork; round the body, two groups of the Hundred Antiques including book, scrolls and ruyi-sceptre.
Dimensions
  • Height: 7.6cm
  • Diameter: 3.5cm
Styles
Gallery label
Miniature bottle China, Jingdezhen, 1700–10 Museum no. Circ.583-1931(September 2009)
Subjects depicted
Summary
This miniature vase was produced at the kilns of Jingdezhen, in south-east China, during the early 18th century, when the fashion for Chinese porcelain was at its highest in Europe. Jingdezhen was at the time the most important ceramic centre in China, supplying both the domestic and export markets.

Miniature vases, produced in a great variety of shapes in China, were privately purchased by European merchants and became particularly popular between the end of the 17th century and the first half of the 18th century, when they were used as decorative items on wall brackets, in cabinets or around mirrors in the residences of aristocrats and wealthy people. One of the largest collection of Chinese porcelain known in Europe belonged to August the Strong of Saxony (d. 1733), who owned more than 21,000 pieces.
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.583-1931

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Record createdJanuary 7, 2009
Record URL
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