Vase thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 137, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Vase

1868 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The various vessels, animals and plants painted on this vase are from a decorative motif known as the 'hundred antiques'. On the base of the vase is the cyclical year equivalent to 1868.

This vase is one of a pair. Its companion piece is also in the V&A (Museum no. C.1416-1910).


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Porcelain painted in overglaze enamels
Brief description
Vase, one of a pair, porcelain painted in overglaze enamels, China (Jingdezhen), Qing dynasty, Tongzhi period, 1868
Physical description
Hexagonal vase with a short neck and slightly flaring mouth. Against a red ground is painted in overglaze enamels the bogu motif, including the incense burner, vase with peacock feathers, scroll, furniture, bat and other objects. A band of square spirals borders both rim and foot. The interior and base are glazed turquoise, with a square reserved in white, on which is written six characters wuchen nian Liangtu ji (wuchen year, mark of Liangtu) within a double square in overglaze red.

The Song emperor Huizong (r.1101-1125) catalogued his collection of ancient bronzes, jades, paintings and ceramics in the Xuanhe Palace, which he entitled Xuanhe Bogu Tu. The term bogu was later used to describe a decorative motif depicting a mixture of vessels, paintings and ornamental objects, but sometimes animals or plants would also be included, such as the bat and lotus on the present vase.

Liangtu was probably the name of the kiln that produced this vase, though no information about that manufactory is available. The vase is one of a pair.
Dimensions
  • Height: 29.5cm
  • Width: 7.6cm
  • Weight: 1.42kg
Styles
Marks and inscriptions
The base is glazed turquoise, with a square reserved in white, on which is written six characters wuchen nian Liangtu ji (wuchen year, mark of Liangtu) within a double square in overglaze red.
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
The various vessels, animals and plants painted on this vase are from a decorative motif known as the 'hundred antiques'. On the base of the vase is the cyclical year equivalent to 1868.

This vase is one of a pair. Its companion piece is also in the V&A (Museum no. C.1416-1910).
Associated object
Bibliographic reference
Wilson, Ming, Rare marks on Chinese ceramics, London : Published by the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1998 74
Other number
Loan no. 2397 - Previous loan number
Collection
Accession number
C.1415-1910

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 createdFebruary 9, 2000
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest