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water-dropper

• Object type

  • water-dropper

• Museum number

  PDF,B.596

• Description

  Porcelain water-dropper in form of carefully modelled cicada with legs folded on underside. Insect's markings indicated by different shades of brown glaze.

• Culture/period

  • Qing dynasty

• Date

  • 1800-1900

• Production place

  • Made in: Jingdezhen
  • (Asia,China,Jiangxi (province),Jingdezhen)

• Materials

  • porcelain

• Technique

  • glazed

• Dimensions

  • Width: 68 millimetres
  • Depth: 44 millimetres

• Curator's comments

  Published PDF date : Qing 18thCRoom 95 label text:

  PDF B596

  Cicada water-dropper

  
  This small water dropper is modelled in the form of a cicada and is covered in a monochrome iron-brown glaze which has lifted extensively. Sir Percival David appears to have collected this object as an illustration of Chinese scholarly taste. It is remarkably well-modelled underneath showing six legs and other features of the insect in great detail.

  
  Porcelain with iron-brown glaze
  Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province 江西省, 景德鎮
  Qing dynasty, about 1800–1900

  More 

• Bibliography

  • Medley 1973 p.58, no.B596
  • Scott 1989 p.59, no.B596

• Location

  On display: G95/dc36/sh2

• Acquisition name

  • On loan from: Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art
  • Previous owner/ex-collection: Hon Mountstuart William Elphinstone (Medley 1973)

• Acquisition notes

  PDF card: 1952. Elphinstone Gift

• Department

  Asia

• Registration number

  PDF,B.596