Bottle
1573-1619 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This Chinese bottle is made from porcelain, a substance much coveted for its hardness and translucency. When this piece was made around 1600, the techniques of porcelain manufacture were unknown in Europe. The method of decoration, too, was novel. The motifs were painted onto the bottle before the glaze was applied. The deep-blue cobalt colouring being a perennial favourite in both China and the West.
People
Most artefacts traded from China were made by anonymous craftsmen and women. There was, however, an interesting development in China around the time that this bottle was made, namely the appearance of signatures on a broad range of craft products. It has been suggested that the Chinese elite, who increasingly purchased such items, wanted some sort of fixed standard as a buying guide.
Design & Designing
This bottle was made at the huge manufacturing plant of Jingdezhen, the largest complex of its kind in the world at the time. Ceramics were produced there in a wide range of shapes informed both by practical needs and a delight in the fantastic. This bottle is in the form of a gourd, a large fleshy fruit which can itself be used as a container when the pulp is scooped out and the skin dried.
This Chinese bottle is made from porcelain, a substance much coveted for its hardness and translucency. When this piece was made around 1600, the techniques of porcelain manufacture were unknown in Europe. The method of decoration, too, was novel. The motifs were painted onto the bottle before the glaze was applied. The deep-blue cobalt colouring being a perennial favourite in both China and the West.
People
Most artefacts traded from China were made by anonymous craftsmen and women. There was, however, an interesting development in China around the time that this bottle was made, namely the appearance of signatures on a broad range of craft products. It has been suggested that the Chinese elite, who increasingly purchased such items, wanted some sort of fixed standard as a buying guide.
Design & Designing
This bottle was made at the huge manufacturing plant of Jingdezhen, the largest complex of its kind in the world at the time. Ceramics were produced there in a wide range of shapes informed both by practical needs and a delight in the fantastic. This bottle is in the form of a gourd, a large fleshy fruit which can itself be used as a container when the pulp is scooped out and the skin dried.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Porcelain, decorated in underglaze cobalt blue |
| Brief description | Cer, China, Ming, blue and white |
| Physical description | CHINESE PORCELAIN BOTTLE IN GOURD FORM |
| Dimensions |
|
| Styles | |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
This bottle is typical of 'kraak' porcelain, named after the ships (carracks, or kraaks in Dutch) that carried the porcelain to Europe in the early 1600s. Porcelain was no longer an exquisite rarity but was becoming increasingly common in wealthy households.(27/03/2003) |
| Object history | Made at Jingdezhen in Jiangxi Province, China |
| Summary | Object Type This Chinese bottle is made from porcelain, a substance much coveted for its hardness and translucency. When this piece was made around 1600, the techniques of porcelain manufacture were unknown in Europe. The method of decoration, too, was novel. The motifs were painted onto the bottle before the glaze was applied. The deep-blue cobalt colouring being a perennial favourite in both China and the West. People Most artefacts traded from China were made by anonymous craftsmen and women. There was, however, an interesting development in China around the time that this bottle was made, namely the appearance of signatures on a broad range of craft products. It has been suggested that the Chinese elite, who increasingly purchased such items, wanted some sort of fixed standard as a buying guide. Design & Designing This bottle was made at the huge manufacturing plant of Jingdezhen, the largest complex of its kind in the world at the time. Ceramics were produced there in a wide range of shapes informed both by practical needs and a delight in the fantastic. This bottle is in the form of a gourd, a large fleshy fruit which can itself be used as a container when the pulp is scooped out and the skin dried. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.1869-1921 |
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 | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
