Lantern
1700-1722 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Porcelain decorated with polychrome enamels was particularly popular during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). An important innovation was the introduction of a brilliant translucent green enamel to the existing colour palette made of yellow, red, green, aubergine and underglaze blue. This new combination of colours was called ying cai ('strong colours') in China, and named 'famille verte' ('green family') by European collectors in the mid 19th century.
This lantern is painted in 'famille verte' style with scenes taken from the popular novel Xi xiang ji (Romance of the Western Chamber), a romance written by Wang Shifu during the Yuan dynasty (1279-1366).
This lantern is painted in 'famille verte' style with scenes taken from the popular novel Xi xiang ji (Romance of the Western Chamber), a romance written by Wang Shifu during the Yuan dynasty (1279-1366).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Porcelain decorated with polychrome enamels |
| Brief description | Lantern painted with polychrome enamels of the famille verte palette, China, Qing dynasty, Kangxi reign (1662-1722) |
| Physical description | Porcelain lantern painted with polychrome enamels of the famille verte colour scheme and gilding with four scenes and decorative bands of ruyi, plum blossoms and geometric motifs. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Gallery label |
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| 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 | Notes from RF: the scenes from Xi Xiang Ji are: 1. Zhang Sheng's first sight of Yingying (part I, act II), 2. Zhang Sheng rents a room from the monk Faben (part I, act II), 3. Zhang Sheng, Fa Cong and Hong Niang (unidentified), 4. Zhang Sheng travels towards the capital (part IV act IV). |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Literary reference | <i>Xi Xiang Ji</i> Romance of the Western Chamber |
| Summary | Porcelain decorated with polychrome enamels was particularly popular during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). An important innovation was the introduction of a brilliant translucent green enamel to the existing colour palette made of yellow, red, green, aubergine and underglaze blue. This new combination of colours was called ying cai ('strong colours') in China, and named 'famille verte' ('green family') by European collectors in the mid 19th century. This lantern is painted in 'famille verte' style with scenes taken from the popular novel Xi xiang ji (Romance of the Western Chamber), a romance written by Wang Shifu during the Yuan dynasty (1279-1366). |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.1260-1910 |
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| Record created | August 22, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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