Saucer
ca. 1750 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The design on this saucer combines several amorous trophies and symbols of marital union in a pastoral landscape. The symbols include two doves perching on Cupid's quiver, an altar with two vases, a garland of flowers, a shepherd's pipe, a bonnet, and two crooks.
This kind of design, known as the "Valentine pattern", the "Absent Master" or the "Altar of love", was first used on a service made in 1743 for Lord George Anson (1697-1792), a British admiral who circumnavigated the globe. The pattern was probably copied from a drawing by Piercy Brett, the draughtsman of the expedition, and several variants were painted by Chinese decorators in the Canton workshops, and at the Worcester factories in England.
This kind of design, known as the "Valentine pattern", the "Absent Master" or the "Altar of love", was first used on a service made in 1743 for Lord George Anson (1697-1792), a British admiral who circumnavigated the globe. The pattern was probably copied from a drawing by Piercy Brett, the draughtsman of the expedition, and several variants were painted by Chinese decorators in the Canton workshops, and at the Worcester factories in England.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Porcelain painted inoverglaze polychrome enamels and gilt |
| Brief description | Saucer with amorous trophies, China, Qing dynasty, ca. 1750 |
| Physical description | Saucer painted in overglaze polychrome enamels and gilt with two doves perching on Cupid’s quiver, an altar with two vases, a garland of flowers, a shepherd’s pipe, a bonnet, two hounds and two crooks. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Styles | |
| Object history | Purchased from a source not recorded in the Asia Department registers, accessioned in 1854. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The design on this saucer combines several amorous trophies and symbols of marital union in a pastoral landscape. The symbols include two doves perching on Cupid's quiver, an altar with two vases, a garland of flowers, a shepherd's pipe, a bonnet, and two crooks. This kind of design, known as the "Valentine pattern", the "Absent Master" or the "Altar of love", was first used on a service made in 1743 for Lord George Anson (1697-1792), a British admiral who circumnavigated the globe. The pattern was probably copied from a drawing by Piercy Brett, the draughtsman of the expedition, and several variants were painted by Chinese decorators in the Canton workshops, and at the Worcester factories in England. |
| Bibliographic reference | Kerr, Rose and Luisa E. Mengoni Chinese Export Ceramics London: V&A Publishing, 2011, p.66, pl.84
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 203-1854 |
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 | February 3, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
