The dish painted with flowers in enamel colours is generally referred to as 'famille rose' porcelain, due to the predominance of the pink colour. It was one of the V&A's early purchases of Chinese art through the good offices of Dr Stephen Wootton Bushell (1844-1908). Bushell was a physician by profession, but his 30-year-long residence in Beijing had made him a self-taught expert. He made several acquisitions on behalf of the V&A and in 1898 was commissioned by the Board of Education to write a comprehensive book on Chinese art, which has been reprinted several times.
The ceramics Bushell selected on behalf of the Museum included blue-and-white and colour-enamelled wares, which were fashionable in the late 19th century. But he did not overlook the more subtle monochromes which were, a few decades later, much appreciated by collectors and connoisseurs.
Physical description
Dish made of porcelain painted with overglaze enamels in the famille rose palette, depicting peonies, chrysanthemums, grasses and dragon-fly. The flowers carry over the rim from outside to inside. Six-character mark on base in underglaze blue.
Place of Origin
China (made)
Date
1736-1750 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown
Materials and Techniques
Porcelain painted in enamel colours
Marks and inscriptions
大清乾隆年製
Da Qing Qianlong nianzhi
Made in the Qianlong reign of the Great Qing
Written in underglaze blue
Dimensions
Diameter: 13.6 cm
Descriptive line
Dish made of porcelain painted with overglaze enamel colours in the famille rose palette, China, Qing dynasty, Qianlong mark and period, 1736-95.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Rose Kerr Chinese Ceramics, Porcelain of the Qing Dynasty 1644-1911' V&A, 1998, No…97
Materials
Porcelain; Enamel; Glaze
Techniques
Wheel-thrown; Painted
Categories
Ceramics
Collection
East Asia Collection