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1 of 253523 objects
Vase with mounts mark and reign Qianlong 1736-95, mount: early 19th century
Porcelain with light celadon glaze painted in white slip, mounted in gilt bronze | 75.0 x 38.5 x 33.5 cm (whole object) | RCIN 2379
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A Chinese porcelain vase with French or English gilt-bronze mounts. With ovoid body, splayed foot, waisted neck with a pair of flat openwork dragon handles, and flaring mouth. Painted in white slip, with branches of flowering prunus on either side and smaller prunus sprays on the neck. The six-character reign-mark in seal script Da Qing Qianlong nian zhi (‘Made in the reign of the Qianlong emperor of the Great Qing’) is written in blue on the base. The top rim mount consists of a gilt-bronze reeded ring, centred with a shell issuing acanthus leaves on each side; the scrolled reeds are attached on either side to a pair of interlaced acanthus-branch handles following the vase contours beautifully,
chased in burnished and matt gilding, on top of which is perched a pair of winged dragons peering into the mouth, their tails entwined with the twisted branches, which are attached below to a pounced and moulded foot ring raised on four pierced scrolled feet, between which are pounced panels of pierced ovals centred by a pierced oval cartouche of C-scrolls.For the furnishing of Carlton House, and subsequently the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, the Prince Regent acquired numerous celadon vases with French gilt-bronze mounts, many of which are overdecorated in white porcelain slip. Where necessary, elaborate mountings were commissioned from Vulliamy and other London craftsmen; and for Brighton, to maintain the brilliance of the galleries, they were often converted into candelabra. The quality and sophistication of the mounts are comparable to those on the pair of ewers RCIN 2318.1-2. While it is not known who commissioned the vase or the ewers, it would be entirely conceivable that George IV had a hand in their acquisition, or perhaps caused their creation through a commission. Mounts of this type have been associated with Edward Holmes Baldock, dealer in furniture and porcelain.
Text adapted from Chinese and Japanese Works of Art in the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen: Volume II.
Provenance
Almost certainly George IV and inventoried at the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, as ‘A sea green Jar with handles, white flowers, rich scroll ormolu lip and base, and dragon handles, with twisted scroll reaching to the base, two feet five inches [73.7 cm]’ (1829B, p. 106); sent to Buckingham Palace in March 1847 (1829A, p. 15).
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Creator(s)
(nationality)Acquirer(s)
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Medium and techniques
Porcelain with light celadon glaze painted in white slip, mounted in gilt bronze
Measurements
75.0 x 38.5 x 33.5 cm (whole object)