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bottle
Object Type
bottle
Museum number
Franks.133
Description
Hexagonal porcelain bottle with underglaze blue decoration. This bottle is pear-shaped with six sides and a hexagonal foot and was probably modelled on a metal-work prototype. Each face is painted in a vivid cobalt blue with a bracket-lobed cartouche enclosing a fabulous beast. These are, clockwise: a horse, lion, leopard, 'qilin' with spots, 'qilin' with scales, and another 'qilin' with spots. The remainder of the body is covered with an inverted-Y diaper pattern in white on a blue ground, with a border of 'ruyi' heads above and formal ornament below. The neck is decorated with feather panels and plantain leaves, the foot with key-fret. On the base is a square seal mark with four characters 富 贵 佳 器 'Fu gui jia qi' [Fine vessel for the rich and honourable].
Cultures/periods
Ming dynasty
Wanli
(probably)
Production date
1573-1620
(circa)
Production place
Made in:
Jingdezhen
Findspot
Found/Acquired:
China
Materials
porcelain
Technique
glazed
underglazed
Dimensions
Diameter:
17 centimetres
Height:
33.80 centimetres
$Inscriptions
Bibliographic references
Harrison-Hall 2001 / Catalogue of Late Yuan and Ming Ceramics in the British Museum
(11:27)
Location
Not on display
Subjects
mythical figure/creature
kirin
fruit
Acquisition name
Donated by:
Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks
Department
Asia
Registration number
Franks.133
Conservation
Treatment
: 21 Jan 1997