Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 145

Vase

1736-1795 (made), 1810-1811 (mounted)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The bright red glaze on this vase is derived from copper, a metal which is far more difficult to control than iron or cobalt. It was only in the 18th century that red glazed porcelains were produced in significant quantities in China.

British potters and collectors in the 18th and 19th centuries were particularly attracted to this glaze. This vase, for example, had been owned by such distinguished collectors as William Beckford (1760-1844) and then George Salting (1835-1909).


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Porcelain with red glaze, silver gilt mount
Brief description
Cer, China, Qing, monochrome, RED; Later China
Physical description
Round the foot a silver gilt mount that bears the London hallmark for 1810-1811 and maker's initials JR, probably for John Robins.
Marked under the base in ink "From the sale of the late W. Beckford Esq Feb 15, 1845" (or 1848?)
Dimensions
  • Height: 32.5cm
Styles
Gallery label
Red-glazed vase China, Qianlong reign, 1736-95, with gilt-silver mount probably by John Robins, London, 1810-11 This glaze is known as 'sang-de-boeuf' or oxblood. The vase was once owned by the Gothic novelist and collector William Beckford. Museum no. C.393-1910. Salting Bequest(2009)
Credit line
Salting bequest
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.
Production
Silver gilt mount around foot bears the London hallmark for 1810-1811 and maker's initials JR, probably for John Robins
Summary
The bright red glaze on this vase is derived from copper, a metal which is far more difficult to control than iron or cobalt. It was only in the 18th century that red glazed porcelains were produced in significant quantities in China.

British potters and collectors in the 18th and 19th centuries were particularly attracted to this glaze. This vase, for example, had been owned by such distinguished collectors as William Beckford (1760-1844) and then George Salting (1835-1909).
Collection
Accession number
C.393-1910

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Record createdSeptember 16, 2005
Record URL
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