Pair of Kangxi Ewers Made for the Islamic Market
Jingdezhen, China, ca. 1710
Porcelain painted in iron-red enamel and gold
35.5 cm high
35.5 cm high
A5877
Further images
Provenance: French private collection since the 19th century.
These elegant, porcelain ewers are decorated with iron red and gilt on a white ground. The pear-shaped body stands on a short foot ring. A raised petal collar links the body and neck, which is divided in two by a bulbous band. A lightly curved s-shaped spout attaches at the centre of the body, and a curved handle at the top of the body. Each ewer retains its lid, with onion shaped knob, which has been fastened to the body with Ottoman silver gilt fitting. The form is derived from Indian metal ewers (aftaba), used for hand-washing and ritual ablutions.[1]
A panel in the form of a raised teardrop at the centre of the body is decorated with a double handled vase containing a sprig of flowers and decorated with a small lotus flower. This motif is surrounded with ruyi clouds in relief. A similar ewer with lid, dated to c. 1710, is in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (accession no. 240B&C-1876). Two more dated to c. 1710-1730 are held in the Topkapı Palace Museum, Istanbul (TKS 15/4042 and TKS 15/4058), but neither has its original lid and one is missing its original handle.[2] All three comparative examples have stylised lotus flowers at the centre of the teardrop panel on the body, rather than the vase motif.
These elegant, porcelain ewers are decorated with iron red and gilt on a white ground. The pear-shaped body stands on a short foot ring. A raised petal collar links the body and neck, which is divided in two by a bulbous band. A lightly curved s-shaped spout attaches at the centre of the body, and a curved handle at the top of the body. Each ewer retains its lid, with onion shaped knob, which has been fastened to the body with Ottoman silver gilt fitting. The form is derived from Indian metal ewers (aftaba), used for hand-washing and ritual ablutions.[1]
A panel in the form of a raised teardrop at the centre of the body is decorated with a double handled vase containing a sprig of flowers and decorated with a small lotus flower. This motif is surrounded with ruyi clouds in relief. A similar ewer with lid, dated to c. 1710, is in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (accession no. 240B&C-1876). Two more dated to c. 1710-1730 are held in the Topkapı Palace Museum, Istanbul (TKS 15/4042 and TKS 15/4058), but neither has its original lid and one is missing its original handle.[2] All three comparative examples have stylised lotus flowers at the centre of the teardrop panel on the body, rather than the vase motif.
[1] Examples illustrated in Zebrowski, Mark. Gold, Silver & Bronze from Mughal India. London: Alexandria Press in association with Laurence King, 1997. pp. 139, 144,160.
[2] Illustrated in Krahl, Regina, John Ayers, and Nurdan Erbahar. Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Saray Museum, Istanbul: A Complete Catalogue. London: published in association with the directorate of the Topkapi Saray Museum by Sotheby’s, 1986. p. 1192.