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flask
Object Type
flask
Museum number
PDF,B.667
Description
Large porcelain flask of bian hu form. Underglaze blue with large three-clawed dragon among scrolling lotus. Similar scrolling lotus on neck and squared spirals at the rim.
Cultures/periods
Ming dynasty
Yongle
Production date
1403-1424
Production place
Made in:
Jingdezhen
Materials
porcelain
Technique
underglazed
Dimensions
Height:
478 millimetres
Weight:
7.20 kilograms
Width:
350 millimetres
Depth:
225 millimetres
Curator's comments
Published PDF date : Ming early 15th century
Room 95 label text: PDF B667 Blue-and-white flask with dragons Both the Yongle (AD1403—24) and Xuande (AD1426—35) emperors sponsored important maritime trade and diplomatic missions to the Middle East. The form of this flask was not originally Chinese but was inspired by a Middle Eastern shape, possibly an enamelled glass vessel. During both the Yongle and Xuande emperors’ reigns, flasks in this large, heavy, bulbous form with variations to the decoration were made at the imperial kilns at Zhushan珠山 in Jingdezhen. The imperial household probably used such flasks as wine decanters but also traded them as evidenced by similar flasks in the Topkapi Saray in Turkey and the Ardabil Shrine in Iran. Porcelain with underglaze cobalt-blue decoration Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province 江西省, 景德鎮 Ming dynasty, Yongle period, AD 1403–24
PDF B667 青花龍紋扁壺 永樂 (1403—1424年) 和宣德 (1426—1435) 兩位皇帝都曾支持重要的海外貿易和外交使團到中東。這個扁壺的形狀本非中國所有,而是受中東器物造形的啟發,可能是有彩繪的玻璃器。在永樂宣德兩朝,景德鎮珠山的御窯都有生產這種碩大厚重球狀造形的扁壺,裝飾各異。皇家內府可能曾用這種扁壺作為酒器,但也曾貿易使用,因土耳其的托普卡帕宮和伊朗的阿爾達比爾神廟有類似的扁壺作例證。 瓷器,青花 江西省景德鎮 明代,永樂,1403–1424年
Bibliographic references
Pierson 2004 / Illustrated Catalogue of Underglaze Blue and Copper Red Decorated Porcelains in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art
(p.92, no.B667)
Medley 1976 / Illustrated Catalogue of Underglaze Blue and Copper Red Decorated Porcelains
(p.66, no.B667, pl.XIV)
Krahl & Harrison-Hall 2009 / Chinese Ceramics: Highlights of the Sir Percival David Collection
(pp 62-63, no.29)
Pierson 2004A / Blue and White for China: Porcelain Treasures in the Percival David Collection
(pp 40-41, no.12)
(Front Cover illustration)
Pierson 2001 / Designs as Signs: Decoration and Chinese Ceramics
(p. 69, no. 65)
Location
On display
(G95/dc58)
Department
Asia
Registration number
PDF,B.667