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

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).


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
  • Overglazing height: 23cm
  • Diameter: 16.5cm
Styles
Gallery label
Lantern China, Kangxi reign, 1700-22 The scenes are from a Chinese novel: Romance of the Western Chamber Museum nos. C.1260-1910. 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
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 createdAugust 22, 2008
Record URL
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