Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 139, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Vase and Cover

ca. 1768 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Vase (in two parts) of hard-paste porcelain. The complete vase resembles an ornate ewer in pseudo-Renaissance style with handle at one side. The lower part of the body is in the form of a tall classical urn of the "calyx-Krater" type, standing on a pedestal foot, with wide-spreading circular base. At one side is a handle of elaborate rococo scrollwork design with acanthus-leaf mouldings, approximately square in section. The underside of the urn is moulded with shellwork and trefoil patterns in comparatively high relief, and there are pendant acanthus-leaf motives on the stem. Below this a moulded and painted stem of purple-flowering (?) Convolvulus encircles the base.

The principal relief design which occupies the front surface of the vase depicts a reclining nymph accompanied by four putti, terminating at the right in a vase of (?) lilies; this is left unpainted, but the principal rococo reliefs are picked out in gilt. The upper part of the vase which acts as a flanged lid provides a tapering, concave-sided neck which terminates in a spreading mouth section with irregularly shaped rim. On the front it bears a relief panel of gilt rocaille designs. The upper gilt scrollwork handle to the right terminates at the rim in a dragon's head. Applied sprays of carnation, tulip (?), peony and Convolvulus modelled in full round, together with lesser flowers in low relief, painted in naturalistic colours, are draped over the lid and encircle the reverse side of the vase.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Vase
  • Cover
Materials and techniques
Hard-paste porcelain with applied reliefs, painted in enamels and gilt
Brief description
Vase and cover, hard-paste porcelain with applied reliefs, painted in enamels and gilt, Königliche Porzellan Manufaktur Berlin, Germany, ca. 1768
Physical description
Vase (in two parts) of hard-paste porcelain. The complete vase resembles an ornate ewer in pseudo-Renaissance style with handle at one side. The lower part of the body is in the form of a tall classical urn of the "calyx-Krater" type, standing on a pedestal foot, with wide-spreading circular base. At one side is a handle of elaborate rococo scrollwork design with acanthus-leaf mouldings, approximately square in section. The underside of the urn is moulded with shellwork and trefoil patterns in comparatively high relief, and there are pendant acanthus-leaf motives on the stem. Below this a moulded and painted stem of purple-flowering (?) Convolvulus encircles the base.

The principal relief design which occupies the front surface of the vase depicts a reclining nymph accompanied by four putti, terminating at the right in a vase of (?) lilies; this is left unpainted, but the principal rococo reliefs are picked out in gilt. The upper part of the vase which acts as a flanged lid provides a tapering, concave-sided neck which terminates in a spreading mouth section with irregularly shaped rim. On the front it bears a relief panel of gilt rocaille designs. The upper gilt scrollwork handle to the right terminates at the rim in a dragon's head. Applied sprays of carnation, tulip (?), peony and Convolvulus modelled in full round, together with lesser flowers in low relief, painted in naturalistic colours, are draped over the lid and encircle the reverse side of the vase.
Dimensions
  • Height: 56.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
A sceptre, in underglaze blue
Credit line
Bequeathed by Mrs S. M. Prendergast
Object history
Formerly Prendergast Loan No. 1.

One of a set probably made for Frederick the Great of Prussia.
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
C.39&A-1960

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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