Coffee Pot and Lid
ca. 1700-1710 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This coffee pot was probably commissioned by European traders, or their clients, from the porcelain factories of Jingdezhen in southern China. Modelled on silver and pewter prototypes brought from Europe, the pieces octagonal form is distinctly European in shape. Special private orders often included objects with shapes and designs copied from European models and drawings, which were brought to China as reference material. The lion-shaped knob on top of the lid is Chinese in origin, while the mythological figures on the lower section of the vessel body are European. The mythological figures in the medallions are probably representations of Europa and the Bull, when the god Jupiter, on falling in love with Europa, transforms into a white bull and abducts her. The designs were probably copied from prints sent to China in the late seventeenth century.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Porcelain painted in underglaze blue |
| Brief description | Porcelain coffee pot painted in underglaze blue from a Delft model, China, Qing dynasty, ca. 1700-1710 |
| Physical description | Porcelain coffee pot and lid of European silver shape, with octagonal, tapering body and straight spout bent near the tip and with an 'S'shaped connection to the body; the handle is simple, the base convex and the three feet rounded. The lid's knob is lion-shaped. It is painted in underglaze blue with landscapes imitating pastoral scenes, and elaborate pendant medallions containing mythological creatures. Hatched diaper and floral scrolls on the spout and handle. |
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| Styles | |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Basil Ionides Bequest |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This coffee pot was probably commissioned by European traders, or their clients, from the porcelain factories of Jingdezhen in southern China. Modelled on silver and pewter prototypes brought from Europe, the pieces octagonal form is distinctly European in shape. Special private orders often included objects with shapes and designs copied from European models and drawings, which were brought to China as reference material. The lion-shaped knob on top of the lid is Chinese in origin, while the mythological figures on the lower section of the vessel body are European. The mythological figures in the medallions are probably representations of Europa and the Bull, when the god Jupiter, on falling in love with Europa, transforms into a white bull and abducts her. The designs were probably copied from prints sent to China in the late seventeenth century. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.71:1, 2-1963 |
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| Record created | October 2, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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