Dish thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 137, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Dish

1890-1930 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This type of colourful enamelled porcelain is commonly known as Nyonya wares (also spelt Nonya). They were made in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, China, in the mid-19th to 20th century specifically for export to Southeast Asia, where they were commissioned and used by wealthy Chinese families in places such as Singapore, Malacca and Penang. The pieces were mainly used during festive and special occasions. They represent an important part of the heritage of the Chinese diaspora in Southeast Asia.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Porcelain painted with overglaze enamels
Brief description
Dish, overglaze polychrome enamelled porcelain, Chinese export to Southeast Asia, 1890-1930
Physical description
Saucer-dish, overglaze polychrome enamelled porcelain, with sloping sides, with gilt-edged petal-shaped rim, high footring, decorated on a white ground, the centre featuring a crane surrounded by green and red leaves, and butterflies; the inner rim decorated with a border of key fret pattern in iron red; the white-glazed outer wall painted with three red bats. Mark on base.
Dimensions
  • Height: 2.5cm
  • Diameter: 10cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
同治年制 (Red square mark in intaglio on base)
Translation
Made in the Tongzhi reign
Transliteration
Tongzhi nian zhi
Credit line
Given by Mrs M. Joan Stewart
Object history
Collected by Mrs M. Joanna Stewart when she was residing in Malaysia from 1962 to 1979.
Summary
This type of colourful enamelled porcelain is commonly known as Nyonya wares (also spelt Nonya). They were made in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, China, in the mid-19th to 20th century specifically for export to Southeast Asia, where they were commissioned and used by wealthy Chinese families in places such as Singapore, Malacca and Penang. The pieces were mainly used during festive and special occasions. They represent an important part of the heritage of the Chinese diaspora in Southeast Asia.
Collection
Accession number
FE.67-2014

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Record createdSeptember 7, 2014
Record URL
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