Porcelain vase for tulips painted in underglaze blue from a Delft model, China, Qing dynasty, ca. 1700

Porcelain tulip vase in the form of a square pyramidal vase divided in three parts; the upper two thirds are detachable. Each of the three sections has tubular orifices at the four corners; the pyramidal vase has four feet alternated to models of birds, and stands on a high square socle with four feet. The surface of the socle is painted in underglaze blue with cupids on a paved terrace or winged cupids among flower sprays; flower, birds, and scrolls decorate the rest of the vase.

The shape and decoration of this tulip vase were probably taken from an original model designed by the Dutch Adriaen Kocks, who owned the Grieksche A factory in Delft, active between 1686 and 1701. The vase was specially commissioned to the porcelain factories of Jingdezhen in southern China by European traders or their clients. Special private orders often included objects with shapes and design copied by European models and drawings, which were brought to China as reference material.

FE.3&A-1979