Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 125, Grove Room

Jar

1662-1722 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This vase is made of fine porcelain painted in underglaze blue with a design of lotus flowers, lotus leaves and herons. The style of decoration would have appealed to a British audience interested in the exotic East. Commonly known as 'Chinese blue-and-white', vases like this were used to decorate the interiors of many British homes in the 19th century.

Chinese blue-and-white porcelain wares had been imported into Britain since the 16th century. Although by the 1870s they were no longer rarity items, they continued to feature prominently in interior design. Rooms were filled with blue-and-white porcelain of different shapes and sizes to create a sumptuous effect. Older pieces were displayed alongside newer products.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Porcelain, painted in underglaze cobalt blue
Brief description
Blue and white vase
Dimensions
  • Height: 30cm
  • Width: 24cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 18/05/2000 by lH
Style
Marks and inscriptions
Mark: a lotus flower within a double ring in underglaze blue.
Credit line
Bequeathed by Joseph Henry Jacobs
Object history
Made in Jingdezhen, China by an unidentified maker
Summary
This vase is made of fine porcelain painted in underglaze blue with a design of lotus flowers, lotus leaves and herons. The style of decoration would have appealed to a British audience interested in the exotic East. Commonly known as 'Chinese blue-and-white', vases like this were used to decorate the interiors of many British homes in the 19th century.

Chinese blue-and-white porcelain wares had been imported into Britain since the 16th century. Although by the 1870s they were no longer rarity items, they continued to feature prominently in interior design. Rooms were filled with blue-and-white porcelain of different shapes and sizes to create a sumptuous effect. Older pieces were displayed alongside newer products.
Collection
Accession number
C.26-1950

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 Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis.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 27, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest