flask

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Object Type
Museum number: PDF.600
Description: Porcelain flask of double gourd form with flattened lower section, strap handles rising from the shoulder, and a rectangular foot. The flask has stylised flower and yin yang symbol in underglaze blue in the centre on one side of lower bulb, a chevron pattern in underglaze blue on the other side, chrysanthemum sprays in underglaze blue on the upper bulb and the base of each strap handle. The base is glazed.
Cultures/periods: Ming dynasty; Xuande
Production date: 1426-1435
Production place: Made in: Jingdezhen
Materials
Technique
Dimensions: Height: 260 millimetres
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: Published PDF date : Ming Xuande 1426-1435; Room 95 label text: PDF 600 Gourd-shaped flask This gourd-shaped flask has an underglaze blue Xuande reign mark. Potters decorated the round bodyof the flask with stylised flowers which resemble patterns made by kaleidoscopes. The blue of the Xuande flask is typically much paler than that of the Yongle flask (PDF 674). Syrian craftsmen made metal flasks in this shape in the fourteenth century. The Xuande emperor’s interest in foreign metalwork forms reflects the cordial diplomatic and economic relations between China and countries in the Middle East such as Syria during his reign. Porcelain with underglaze cobalt-blue decoration Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province 江西省, 景德鎮 Ming dynasty, Xuande mark and period, AD 1426–35; PDF 600 葫蘆形扁壺此葫蘆形扁壺署青花宣德年款。陶工們在扁壺的圓形器身裝飾格式化花卉紋，形成類似萬花筒般的裝飾圖案。宣德扁壺的青花呈色通常來說較永樂扁壺（PDF674）暗淡許多。十四世紀，敘利亞工匠製作這種器形的金屬扁壺。宣德皇帝對這種外來金屬器皿的興趣，也反映了其在位期間，中國與中東國家如敘利亞等之間友好的外交與經濟交流。瓷器，青花江西省景德鎮明代，宣德，宣德款，1426-1435年
Bibliographic references: Pierson 2004 / Illustrated Catalogue of Underglaze Blue and Copper Red Decorated Porcelains in the Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art (p.21, no.600); Medley 1976 / Illustrated Catalogue of Underglaze Blue and Copper Red Decorated Porcelains (p.15, no.600); Pierson 2004A / Blue and White for China: Porcelain Treasures in the Percival David Collection (pp 54-55, no.19); Hobson 1934 / A Catalogue of Chinese Pottery and Porcelain in the Collection of Sir Percival David Bt., F.S.A. (p. 118, pl. CXVII); Medley 1975 / Volume 7: Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art (Colour pl. 44 and p. 310); Pierson 2001 / Designs as Signs: Decoration and Chinese Ceramics (p. 77, no. 77)
Location: Not on display
Exhibition history: Exhibited: 2014 Sep-2015 Jan, BM WCEC, 'Ming: 50 years that changed China'
Department: Asia
Registration number: PDF.600
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