Ewer
1680-1710 (made)
| Place of origin |
This ewer (aftaba) was acquired for the Museum in Iran. The shape imitates a South Asian metalware ewer which is usually accompanied by a basin. It was made at the Jingdezhen kilns in south-wast China for export to India or the Middle East, where these ewers and basin sets were used for handwashing. The Hindus were expected to wash their hands before and after meals, while the Koran commands the faithful to wash their hands before prayer.
In the 17th century, the ruling courts of India were immensely wealthy. They had collected Chinese blue-and-white porcelain since the Yuan dynasty. While the ewer may have been made for the South Asia market, that it was found in Iran suggests that it may have been purchased by South Asian merchants who were based in Isfahan in the Safavid dynasty.
The Chinese blue-painted decoration is typical of the export style found at the end of the seventeeth century indiscriminately applied to wares for the Middle East and Europe.
In the 17th century, the ruling courts of India were immensely wealthy. They had collected Chinese blue-and-white porcelain since the Yuan dynasty. While the ewer may have been made for the South Asia market, that it was found in Iran suggests that it may have been purchased by South Asian merchants who were based in Isfahan in the Safavid dynasty.
The Chinese blue-painted decoration is typical of the export style found at the end of the seventeeth century indiscriminately applied to wares for the Middle East and Europe.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Porcelain painted in underglaze blue |
| Brief description | Porcelain ewer painted in underglaze blue, Jingdezhen, China, Qing dynasty, Kangxi reign, ca. 1680-1710 |
| Dimensions |
|
| Styles | |
| Gallery label | Chinese ewer with South Asian metalwork shape
China, Jingdezhen, about 1680-1710
Acquired in Iran
Museum no. 1581-1876(July 2009) |
| Object history | Purchased from Robert Murdoch Smith, accessioned in 1876. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. Object acquired in Iran, but imitates a South Asian metalware prototype. It may have been made for the South Asia merchants who were based in Isfahan in the Safavid dynasty. |
| Summary | This ewer (aftaba) was acquired for the Museum in Iran. The shape imitates a South Asian metalware ewer which is usually accompanied by a basin. It was made at the Jingdezhen kilns in south-wast China for export to India or the Middle East, where these ewers and basin sets were used for handwashing. The Hindus were expected to wash their hands before and after meals, while the Koran commands the faithful to wash their hands before prayer. In the 17th century, the ruling courts of India were immensely wealthy. They had collected Chinese blue-and-white porcelain since the Yuan dynasty. While the ewer may have been made for the South Asia market, that it was found in Iran suggests that it may have been purchased by South Asian merchants who were based in Isfahan in the Safavid dynasty. The Chinese blue-painted decoration is typical of the export style found at the end of the seventeeth century indiscriminately applied to wares for the Middle East and Europe. |
| Bibliographic reference | Kerr, Rose and Luisa E. Mengoni Chinese Export Ceramics London: V&A Publishing, 2011, p.108, pl.154 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1581-1876 |
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
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | March 7, 2000 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
