China

Room 8

Case 48

“Foreign enamel” style porcelain 洋彩瓷器

Porcelain from the Jingdezhen kilns 景德鎮窯, Jiangxi Province 江西省, Qing dynasty 清代 (1644-1911).

The Jesuits introduced Chinese craftsmen to new enamel colours. The discovery of white enamel, which made it possible to obtain a virtually infinite assortment of shades of other colours, together with colloidal gold-based pink enamel, vastly extended the range in painted decoration on ceramics.

  1. Pair of enamelled bowls with flower designs painted on yellow ground 黃彩草花紋碗一對

    Mark and reign of Daoguang 道光 (1821-1850)

    CB-CC-1930-630 and CB-CC-1930-631
  2. Enamelled vase with crimson ground 粉紅彩磬紋瓶

    Mark and reign of Qianlong 乾隆 (1736-1795)

    CB-CC-1931-632

    The pronunciation of the word for “musical stones” 磬, which appear among the decorative motifs, would bring to mind, through similarity of sound, the term “celebration” 慶.
  3. Enamelled cong vase with yellow ground 黃彩八卦紋琮瓶

    Mark and reign of Qianlong 乾隆 (1736-1795)

    CB-CC-1950-624

    Each face includes the motif of the Eight Trigrams, derived from an ancient method of divination.
  4. Bowl with “foreign” style enamelled flowers 洋彩草花紋碗

    Mark and reign of Kangxi 康熙 (1662-1722)

    CB-CC-1950- 672
  5. Bowl with “foreign” style enamelled flowers 洋彩花紋碗

    Mark and reign of Kangxi 康熙 (1662-1722)

    CB-CC-1932-613
  6. Bowl with “foreign” style enamelled flowers 洋彩草花紋碗

    Mark and reign of Kangxi 康熙 (1662-1722)

    CB-CC-1950- 673
  7. Enamelled vase with flower design painted on yellow ground 黃彩花紋瓶

    Mark and reign of Qianlong 乾隆 (1736-1795)

    CB-CC-1936-625
  8. Pair of vases enamelled with butterfly designs 粉紅彩蝴蝶紋瓶一對

    Mark and reign of Qianlong 乾隆 (1736-1795)

    CB-CC-1930-626 et CB-CC-1930-627

    The butterfly suggests a play on the word for “seventy years old” 耋 and thus expresses the wish to attain advanced age.
  9. Bowl decorated with flower design 洋彩草花紋碗

    Mark and reign of Yongzheng 雍正 (1723-1735)

    CB-CC-1937-615
  10. Cup decorated with flower design 洋彩草花紋杯

    Mark and reign of Yongzheng 雍正 (1723-1735)

    CB-CC-1935-614