This ewer was originally paired with a basin, and used for washing, either in the dining room or in the bed chamber. Before the widespread use of forks, hand washing was an important ritual in fine dining when hands came into direct contact with food.
Its shape may have been copied from a silver prototype made in France, Germany or Portugal. Another suggestioin is that the original bi-part body shape derived from a valuable material such as carved rock crystal or shell, mounted in precious metal.
Physical description
Porcelain ewer with wide mouth and long handle, painted with flowers and insects in overglaze polychrome enamels and gold
Place of Origin
China (made)
Date
ca. 1730-1740 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown
Materials and Techniques
Porcelain painted in polychrome overglaze enamels
Dimensions
Height: 30.6 cm
Descriptive line
Porcelain ewer painted with flowers and insects, Jingdezhen, China, ca. 1730-40
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Kerr, Rose and Luisa E. Mengoni Chinese Export Ceramics London: V&A Publishing, 2011, p.36, pl.39
Materials
Porcelain
Techniques
Painted; Gilded
Subjects depicted
Flowers; Insects; Butterflies
Categories
Ceramics; Porcelain
Collection
East Asia Collection