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Title

Altar vase

late 18th century

Artists

Unknown Artist

  • Details

    Place where the work was made
    China
    Period
    Jiaqing 1796 - 1820 → Qing dynasty 1644 - 1911 → China
    Date
    late 18th century
    Media category
    Ceramic
    Materials used
    porcelain with overglazed enamels on yellow ground
    Dimensions
    25.4 x 15.5 cm
    Credit
    Gift of Mr J.H. Myrtle 1991
    Location
    Not on display
    Accession number
    148.1991
    Copyright

    Reproduction requests

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  • About

    This skilfully modelled vase, with a shape inspired by Tibetan metal prototypes and a complexity of decoration typical of late Qing dynasty Imperial porcelain, was used on altars in the Imperial palace. The main decoration comprises eight lotus blooms and the eight Buddhist emblems of Happy Augury ('baji xiang'). The eight Buddhist emblems, popular motifs in Chinese decoration, are the canopy, the royal umbrella, the conch shell, the vase, the wheel of the law, the endless knot, the lotus flower and the pair of fish.

    'Asian Art', AGNSW Collections, 1994, pg. 205.

  • Places

    Where the work was made

    China

  • Exhibition history

    Shown in 5 exhibitions

  • Bibliography

    Referenced in 2 publications

    • J. Hepburn Myrtle, Late Chinese Imperial Porcelain, Sydney, 1980, 14 (illus.). cat.no. 10

    • Jackie Menzies, AGNSW Collections, 'Asian Art - India, South-East Asia, China, Tibet, Korea, Japan', pg. 173-228, Sydney, 1994, 205 (colour illus.).