Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 137, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Dish

ca. 1785-1795 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This porcelain dish was made at the kilns of Jingdezhen in southern China at the end of the 18th century. At this time, blue and white porcelain were still exported to Europe, although the competition of local ceramic factories led to a substantial decrease in volume.

The scene depicted on this dish was a stylised and much adapted version of a traditional Chinese landscape theme, a subject probably copied from English transfer-printed ware sent to China. This design, very popular on western chinoiserie, was perceived by European clients as purely 'oriental' and 'exotic', although it was very distant from Chinese taste.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Porcelain decorated in underglaze blue
Brief description
Porcelain dish decorated in underglaze blue with river landscape, China, Qing dynasty, ca. 1785-1795
Physical description
Porcelain dish decorated in underglaze blue with a river landscape featuring pagodas, small boats, bridges and figures framed by a diaper border; the rim is painted with a brown slip and gilt.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 20.3cm
Styles
Gallery label
Dish Porcelain with decoration in underglaze blue River landscape, copied from English transfer-printed ware About 1785-1795 Woodcroft Bequest(1987)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Mrs A. B. Woodcroft
Object history
Bequeathed by Mrs. A. B. Woodcroft, accessioned in 1903. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This porcelain dish was made at the kilns of Jingdezhen in southern China at the end of the 18th century. At this time, blue and white porcelain were still exported to Europe, although the competition of local ceramic factories led to a substantial decrease in volume.

The scene depicted on this dish was a stylised and much adapted version of a traditional Chinese landscape theme, a subject probably copied from English transfer-printed ware sent to China. This design, very popular on western chinoiserie, was perceived by European clients as purely 'oriental' and 'exotic', although it was very distant from Chinese taste.
Bibliographic reference
Clunas, Craig (ed.). Chinese Export Art and Design. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1987, p. 44, fig. 22.
Collection
Accession number
402-1903

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Record createdNovember 12, 2002
Record URL
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