altar vase
Vase
1573-1620 (made)
1573-1620 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This vase was produced at the imperial kilns of Jingdezhen for the court, and was probably used on a temple's altar to hold flowers. The colour scheme, generally known as wucai or 'five colours', combines underglaze blue and overglaze green, yellow, red, black and pale aubergine enamels; the design is outlined in black and red.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | altar vase (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Porcelain painted in underglaze blue and coloured enamels |
| Brief description | Altar vase painted in underglaze blue and coloured enamels, wucai ware, China, Ming dynasty, Wanli mark and period (1573-1620) |
| Physical description | Tall beaker-shaped vase with large foot, middle bulging section, long neck and flaring mouth; painted in underglaze blue and coloured enamels (wucai ware) with five-clawed dragons flying among cloud scrolls, peacoks with peonies, lotuses, rocks and waves. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Styles | |
| Marks and inscriptions | 大明萬曆年制 (In underglaze blue below the lip)
|
| Gallery label |
|
| Object history | Purchased from Messrs S. M. Franck & Co Ltd. This vase was part of the imperial collection of the Yiheyuan (Summer Palace), the gardens renovated and expanded by Empress Dowager Cixi in 1884-95. In a photograph of the garden taken in 1900 by Noel Du Boulay, Commandant of the British troops guarding the palace, the vase can be seen on a wooden table together with other porcelain and jade objects. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This vase was produced at the imperial kilns of Jingdezhen for the court, and was probably used on a temple's altar to hold flowers. The colour scheme, generally known as wucai or 'five colours', combines underglaze blue and overglaze green, yellow, red, black and pale aubergine enamels; the design is outlined in black and red. |
| Bibliographic references |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.463-1920 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | October 2, 2008 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
