Not currently on display at the V&A

Cup

1800-1830 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Painted enamels of this kind were commonly known in English as 'Canton enamel', after the main centre of their production in South China. They were popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. These copper wares were also produced in Beijing for imperial consumption. In Chinese they were referred to as 'foreign porcelain' (yangci 洋瓷).


Object details

Object type
Materials and techniques
Painted enamel and gold on a copper body
Brief description
Cup, painted enamels on copper, Guangzhou, China, 1800-1830
Physical description
Cup with a twelve lobed body and an exposed rim. The interior of the cup is painted with light blue enamel, with a decorative band of dark blue enamel beneath the interior edge of the rim. The exterior wall of the cup is painted various flowers and fruit on scrolling vines, outlined in black against a purple ground. Dark lines have been used to add shading and texture to the leaves and petals. A repeating series of gold scrolling decoration hangs down from the exterior edge of the rim. The regular pattern of this scrollwork contrasts with the dynamic asymmetry of the central motif of flowers and fruit. In some places the flowers, fruit and leaves have been painted on top of the gold scrollwork.
Credit line
Purchased from Chaffers, original purchase price for 553 & 553A-1854
Object history
Purchased from Chaffers, accessioned in 1854. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Production
label
Summary
Painted enamels of this kind were commonly known in English as 'Canton enamel', after the main centre of their production in South China. They were popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. These copper wares were also produced in Beijing for imperial consumption. In Chinese they were referred to as 'foreign porcelain' (yangci 洋瓷).
Collection
Accession number
553-1854

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
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