Vase
1740-1760 (made), 1752-1766 (decorated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
The shape of this vase was a common one among both Chinese domestic and export products. Many porcelains with either blank or minimally decorated surfaces were shipped to Europe for further patterning at specialist workshops. This highly-coloured enamelling in appropriately European taste added to their value. In many cases the so-called 'clobbered' designs were entirely European in character, but in this case the London enamellers chose to copy Chinese designs.
Time
The clear-glazed porcelain body of this vase was made at kilns in Jingdezhen in Jiangxi Province in southern central China. The moulded flower patterns and minimal underglaze blue-painted design were part of the original manufacture of between 1740 and 1760. After being shipped to Europe, the vase was redecorated with coloured enamels in a London workshop, possibly that of James Giles (1718-1780), between 1752 and 1766.
Materials & Making
The vase is made of very fine soft-paste porcelain that was the inspiration for European porcelain production. Chinese soft-paste is not the same as European soft-paste. It has a higher than usual proportion of kaolin clay in the china clay / china stone body composition. It was used to produce fine, smooth wares, but was not suited to the manufacture of large vessels.
The shape of this vase was a common one among both Chinese domestic and export products. Many porcelains with either blank or minimally decorated surfaces were shipped to Europe for further patterning at specialist workshops. This highly-coloured enamelling in appropriately European taste added to their value. In many cases the so-called 'clobbered' designs were entirely European in character, but in this case the London enamellers chose to copy Chinese designs.
Time
The clear-glazed porcelain body of this vase was made at kilns in Jingdezhen in Jiangxi Province in southern central China. The moulded flower patterns and minimal underglaze blue-painted design were part of the original manufacture of between 1740 and 1760. After being shipped to Europe, the vase was redecorated with coloured enamels in a London workshop, possibly that of James Giles (1718-1780), between 1752 and 1766.
Materials & Making
The vase is made of very fine soft-paste porcelain that was the inspiration for European porcelain production. Chinese soft-paste is not the same as European soft-paste. It has a higher than usual proportion of kaolin clay in the china clay / china stone body composition. It was used to produce fine, smooth wares, but was not suited to the manufacture of large vessels.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Soft-paste porcelain, decorated in underglaze blue, and overpainted with enamels |
| Brief description | Cer, China, Qing, polychrome |
| Physical description | Chinese vase with added decoration |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
This vase was made in China but enamelled in England. Specialist decorating workshops bought undecorated English and Chinese wares for enamelling. Since painted enamels were usually applied to the surface of glazed ware, they could be added after the piece was manufactured.(27/03/2003) |
| Object history | Made and decorated at kilns in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, China; overdecorated in London, possibly at the workshop of James Giles |
| Production | redecorated in London, 1752-1766, possibly at the workshop of James Giles |
| Summary | Object Type The shape of this vase was a common one among both Chinese domestic and export products. Many porcelains with either blank or minimally decorated surfaces were shipped to Europe for further patterning at specialist workshops. This highly-coloured enamelling in appropriately European taste added to their value. In many cases the so-called 'clobbered' designs were entirely European in character, but in this case the London enamellers chose to copy Chinese designs. Time The clear-glazed porcelain body of this vase was made at kilns in Jingdezhen in Jiangxi Province in southern central China. The moulded flower patterns and minimal underglaze blue-painted design were part of the original manufacture of between 1740 and 1760. After being shipped to Europe, the vase was redecorated with coloured enamels in a London workshop, possibly that of James Giles (1718-1780), between 1752 and 1766. Materials & Making The vase is made of very fine soft-paste porcelain that was the inspiration for European porcelain production. Chinese soft-paste is not the same as European soft-paste. It has a higher than usual proportion of kaolin clay in the china clay / china stone body composition. It was used to produce fine, smooth wares, but was not suited to the manufacture of large vessels. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.16-1962 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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