Vase
1860-1900 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
The shape of this vase, with a dragon coiling around its neck, occurs in both bronze and porcelain during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), while the vari-coloured glaze recalls glazes used on pots during the Song dynasty (960-1279). Thus both form and glaze suggest ancient objects. The collecting of antiques in 19th-century China was accompanied by an interest in modern objects that made references to antiquity.
Time
This type of ware was made at kilns in the town of Shiwan, near Canton (Guangzhou). Shiwan wares are difficult to date precisely, but a peak in production occurred in the last decades of the 19th century. Many pieces were exported, for the kilns were close to both the port of Canton and the British colony of Hong Kong.
Materials & Making
Shiwan wares employed durable, high-firing stoneware clays that were dug locally. They are typified by exotic, splashed glazes in brilliant colours. Glazes coloured with different minerals were applied by dipping, painting or pouring. Careful control of firing temperatures and kiln atmospheres was crucial.
The shape of this vase, with a dragon coiling around its neck, occurs in both bronze and porcelain during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), while the vari-coloured glaze recalls glazes used on pots during the Song dynasty (960-1279). Thus both form and glaze suggest ancient objects. The collecting of antiques in 19th-century China was accompanied by an interest in modern objects that made references to antiquity.
Time
This type of ware was made at kilns in the town of Shiwan, near Canton (Guangzhou). Shiwan wares are difficult to date precisely, but a peak in production occurred in the last decades of the 19th century. Many pieces were exported, for the kilns were close to both the port of Canton and the British colony of Hong Kong.
Materials & Making
Shiwan wares employed durable, high-firing stoneware clays that were dug locally. They are typified by exotic, splashed glazes in brilliant colours. Glazes coloured with different minerals were applied by dipping, painting or pouring. Careful control of firing temperatures and kiln atmospheres was crucial.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Stoneware, with blue glaze splashed with red |
| Brief description | Vase, glazed stoneware, Shiwan ware, China, Shiwanzhen, Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), 1860-1900 |
| Physical description | Vase of stoneware, ovoid body, with lizard-like form curving up across the body. Covered in blue glaze splashed with red. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Object history | Purchased from Colonel G. F. St. John, R.A. (Darklands' Chalet, Symands' Yat, near Ross), accessioned in 1903. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. Made at the Shiwan kilns in Guangdong Province, China |
| Summary | Object Type The shape of this vase, with a dragon coiling around its neck, occurs in both bronze and porcelain during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), while the vari-coloured glaze recalls glazes used on pots during the Song dynasty (960-1279). Thus both form and glaze suggest ancient objects. The collecting of antiques in 19th-century China was accompanied by an interest in modern objects that made references to antiquity. Time This type of ware was made at kilns in the town of Shiwan, near Canton (Guangzhou). Shiwan wares are difficult to date precisely, but a peak in production occurred in the last decades of the 19th century. Many pieces were exported, for the kilns were close to both the port of Canton and the British colony of Hong Kong. Materials & Making Shiwan wares employed durable, high-firing stoneware clays that were dug locally. They are typified by exotic, splashed glazes in brilliant colours. Glazes coloured with different minerals were applied by dipping, painting or pouring. Careful control of firing temperatures and kiln atmospheres was crucial. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1190-1903 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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