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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Europe 1600-1815, Room 3

Vase

1700-1720 (made), 1740-1760 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The taste for mounted Chinese porcelain reached great popularity in Europe in the 1700s, when large quantities of porcelain were exported from China to be used as domestic vessels or decorative objects in European houses.

Unlike the previous century, when precious metal mounts were still applied to enhance the rarity and value of porcelain objects, at the turn of 1700 gilt bronze became the favourite medium. The rise of rococo style in France also contributed to the new fashion: lavish gilt bronze mounts with sinuous scrolls were intended to change the appearance of porcelain objects and make them fit more harmoniously with interior settings dominated by gilding and carved wall decorations.

This brushpot is covered by a delicate glaze of a pale green shade, called in Europe ‘celadon’; the gilt bronze mount is generally referred to as ormolu, an abbreviation for bronze doré d’or moulu (gilt bronze).


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Porcelain with celadon green glaze and chased ormolu mounts
Brief description
Vase with 'celadon' green glaze, China, Qing dynasty, ca. 1700-20 with French ormolu mounts, Louis XV (1715-74)
Physical description
Bamboo-shaped brushpot with applied bamboo branches and leaves covered with a 'celadon' green glaze; chased gilt bronze ormolu mount with scrolls and rocks.
Dimensions
  • Height: 18cm
  • Whole object height: 190mm
  • Whole object width: 105mm
  • Whole object depth: 105mm
Styles
Gallery label
  • Vase 1700–60 The distinctive monochrome glazes of Chinese porcelain were highly prized in France. This pale green or greyish glaze called ‘celadon’ was especially desirable. Europeans imported porcelain and lacquer from East Asia and mounted it in gilded metal. These new pieces frequently served purposes very different from their original function and were displayed in sets on mantelpieces or side tables. Brushpot (1700–20): China (Jingdezhen); porcelain with celadon glaze Mounts: France (Paris); gilded copper alloy Bequeathed by John Jones (09/12/2015)
  • Spill Vase, one of a pair. Celadon porcelain, pale green, imitating sections of bamboo, and with chased ormolu stand. Chinese, with French mounting. H. 7 in, W 3 1/4 in. Jones Bequest 820a-1882(pre-1994)
  • Celadon-glazed porcelain of the reign of K'ang-hsi (1662-1722) Ormolu mounts, period of Louis XV 820a-1882(pre-1994)
  • PAIR OF BRUSH-POTS in the form of bamboo, celadon porcelain, mounted in ormolu as vases CHINESE; reign of K'ang Hsi (1662-1722) The mounts FRENCH; middle of 18th century No. 190 820&A-1882(pre-1994)
  • Pair of vases In form of sections of bamboo, with celadon glaze French gilt bronze (ormolu) 18th century mounts Jones Bequest 820&A-1882(1994)
Credit line
Bequeathed by John Jones
Object history
Bequeathed by John Jones, accessioned in 1882. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Subjects depicted
Summary
The taste for mounted Chinese porcelain reached great popularity in Europe in the 1700s, when large quantities of porcelain were exported from China to be used as domestic vessels or decorative objects in European houses.

Unlike the previous century, when precious metal mounts were still applied to enhance the rarity and value of porcelain objects, at the turn of 1700 gilt bronze became the favourite medium. The rise of rococo style in France also contributed to the new fashion: lavish gilt bronze mounts with sinuous scrolls were intended to change the appearance of porcelain objects and make them fit more harmoniously with interior settings dominated by gilding and carved wall decorations.

This brushpot is covered by a delicate glaze of a pale green shade, called in Europe ‘celadon’; the gilt bronze mount is generally referred to as ormolu, an abbreviation for bronze doré d’or moulu (gilt bronze).
Collection
Accession number
820A-1882

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Record createdSeptember 12, 2008
Record URL
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