Plate
1683-1722 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This blue and white dish features decoration of a dragon among clouds and a 'fish-dragon' among waves. In China dragons are an extremely popular decorative motif, found on many different kinds of objects and materials. The dragon is regarded as a supernatural creature and is also one of the animals in the Chinese zodiac. It is the subject of numerous Chinese legends. The 'fish-dragon' motif relates to a folk tale in which a golden carp, after leaping up the 'dragon' falls, is transformed into a dragon and flies away. This is regarded as a metaphor for success.
Time
During the 14th century cobalt was imported into China from the Middle East, especially Iran. By the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), however, methods of processing local Chinese cobalt ores had been developed. Blue and white porcelain was exported in large quantities to the Middle East and to a lesser extent to the West.
Materials & Making
This dish was manufactured at the Jingdezhen kilns in Jiangxi Province. A large part of the production there consisted of blue and white wares. The cobalt blue pigment was painted directly on to the porcelain body, which was then covered in a clear glaze and fired at a temperature of between 1280 and 1350ºC.
This blue and white dish features decoration of a dragon among clouds and a 'fish-dragon' among waves. In China dragons are an extremely popular decorative motif, found on many different kinds of objects and materials. The dragon is regarded as a supernatural creature and is also one of the animals in the Chinese zodiac. It is the subject of numerous Chinese legends. The 'fish-dragon' motif relates to a folk tale in which a golden carp, after leaping up the 'dragon' falls, is transformed into a dragon and flies away. This is regarded as a metaphor for success.
Time
During the 14th century cobalt was imported into China from the Middle East, especially Iran. By the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), however, methods of processing local Chinese cobalt ores had been developed. Blue and white porcelain was exported in large quantities to the Middle East and to a lesser extent to the West.
Materials & Making
This dish was manufactured at the Jingdezhen kilns in Jiangxi Province. A large part of the production there consisted of blue and white wares. The cobalt blue pigment was painted directly on to the porcelain body, which was then covered in a clear glaze and fired at a temperature of between 1280 and 1350ºC.
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Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Porcelain, decorated in underglaze cobalt blue |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | Reign mark of Kangxi (ruled 1662-1722) on the back |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN 1662-1722 Kangxi reign period Many collectors admired Chinese blue and white porcelain. These pieces were owned by the artists James McNeill Whistler and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, who began collecting in the 1860s. The most important dealer selling such porcelain was Murray Marks (1840-1918) whose business card showed a painting by Whistler of a blue and white jar.(27/03/2003) |
| Object history | Bequeathed by Mr. George Salting, accessioned in 1910. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. Made at the Jingdezhen kilns in Jiangxi Province, China |
| Summary | Object Type This blue and white dish features decoration of a dragon among clouds and a 'fish-dragon' among waves. In China dragons are an extremely popular decorative motif, found on many different kinds of objects and materials. The dragon is regarded as a supernatural creature and is also one of the animals in the Chinese zodiac. It is the subject of numerous Chinese legends. The 'fish-dragon' motif relates to a folk tale in which a golden carp, after leaping up the 'dragon' falls, is transformed into a dragon and flies away. This is regarded as a metaphor for success. Time During the 14th century cobalt was imported into China from the Middle East, especially Iran. By the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), however, methods of processing local Chinese cobalt ores had been developed. Blue and white porcelain was exported in large quantities to the Middle East and to a lesser extent to the West. Materials & Making This dish was manufactured at the Jingdezhen kilns in Jiangxi Province. A large part of the production there consisted of blue and white wares. The cobalt blue pigment was painted directly on to the porcelain body, which was then covered in a clear glaze and fired at a temperature of between 1280 and 1350ºC. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.769-1910 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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