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

Dish

ca. 1785-1790 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This dish, produced in China at the end of the18th century but acquired in Iran, is painted in the style of English transfer-printed decoration. Chinese porcelain was greatly admired by Europeans during this time, 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, such as coat of arms, monograms or inscriptions. The East India trading companies supplied models and patterns to be copied by the Chinese potters.

The central design is a stylised version of the traditional Chinese landscape theme, a subject that was re-invented in Europe and integrated into the repertoire of western chinoiserie. The latter was then imitated again on Chinese porcelain made for export. This motif was perceived by European customers as purely 'oriental' and 'exotic', although it was very distant from the domestic taste in China.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Porcelain painted in pink enamel
Brief description
Porcelain dish decorated with pink enamel, China, Qing dynasty, ca. 1785-1790
Physical description
Porcelain plate, decorated in pink enamel with a landscape scene featuring pagoda-type houses on rocks, surrounded by a double border of diaper pattern.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 24.8cm
Styles
Gallery label
Plate of European shape, acquired in Iran China, 1785–90 Museum no. 545-1888(September 2009)
Object history
Purchased from a source not recorded in the Asia Department registers, accessioned in 1888. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Bought in Iran
Subject depicted
Summary
This dish, produced in China at the end of the18th century but acquired in Iran, is painted in the style of English transfer-printed decoration. Chinese porcelain was greatly admired by Europeans during this time, 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, such as coat of arms, monograms or inscriptions. The East India trading companies supplied models and patterns to be copied by the Chinese potters.

The central design is a stylised version of the traditional Chinese landscape theme, a subject that was re-invented in Europe and integrated into the repertoire of western chinoiserie. The latter was then imitated again on Chinese porcelain made for export. This motif was perceived by European customers as purely 'oriental' and 'exotic', although it was very distant from the domestic taste in China.
Collection
Accession number
545-1888

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 createdMarch 7, 2000
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest