bottle

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Object Type: bottle
Museum number: Franks.747
Description: Porcelain bottle with underglaze blue decoration. This bottle has a globular body, a long neck with flared mouth and a thick straight foot. Beneath its glossy blue-white glaze, the bottle is painted with four mythical beasts. They are shown flying over a fanciful landscape. Plantain leaves encircle the neck and are bordered by a band of zigzags and trefoils at the top and a lotus scroll reserved in white on a band of blue below. The base is unmarked.
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: Height: 28.50 centimetres
Bibliographic references: Harrison-Hall 2001 / Catalogue of Late Yuan and Ming Ceramics in the British Museum (11:26)
Location: Not on display
Subjects: mythical figure/creature; lotus
Acquisition name: Donated by: Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks
Acquisition notes: The Asian ceramics donated by Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks were recorded in a sequence on index cards (known as the ‘Franks Index Cards’), held in the Dept of Asia.
Department: Asia
Registration number: Franks.747
Conservation: Treatment: 25 Feb 1997

Free entry