Hat Stand
ca. 1750-1790 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Moulded gourd hat stand, comprised of three parts: a polygonal knob, shaft and base. On the knob, a square top decorated with a flower with "Qian long shang wan" mark disposed around it in the four corners; on the four upper triangles, three times a gourd tied with ribbons and once a spray of two peaches with leaves; on the four vertical square sides, shou surrounded by four swastikas; on the lower triangles. three times a spray of two peaches with leaves (with the upper triangles making 8 peaches in all) and once a gourd tied with ribbons. The hexafoil base with segments in the shape of ruyi heads, underside with gilt design on a black lacquer background; the sacred symbol Om in Tibetan script six times in a circle round a formal flower.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Gourd, moulded, lacquered and gilt |
| Brief description | Hat stand, moulded gourd lacquered and gilt at the base, China, Qing dynasty, Qianlong reign mark and period (1736-1795), ca. 1750-1790 |
| Physical description | Moulded gourd hat stand, comprised of three parts: a polygonal knob, shaft and base. On the knob, a square top decorated with a flower with "Qian long shang wan" mark disposed around it in the four corners; on the four upper triangles, three times a gourd tied with ribbons and once a spray of two peaches with leaves; on the four vertical square sides, shou surrounded by four swastikas; on the lower triangles. three times a spray of two peaches with leaves (with the upper triangles making 8 peaches in all) and once a gourd tied with ribbons. The hexafoil base with segments in the shape of ruyi heads, underside with gilt design on a black lacquer background; the sacred symbol Om in Tibetan script six times in a circle round a formal flower. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Marks and inscriptions | On the top of the knob with four-character 'Qian long shang wan' mark
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| Credit line | Sir John Addis Gift |
| Object history | This is a hat stand for a fur hat, to avoid crushing its rim by standing it on a flat surface. The polygonal knob is an almost entire gourd completely encased in a mould, only the small area round the junction of the stem having been cut off. |
| Production | Craig Clunas, in Chinese Carving (V&A, 1996), referred to this hat stand as Qianlong reign period mark but possibly incorporating an earlier bowl. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | FE.160-1975 |
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| Record created | June 25, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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