Terms and conditions of use
Tea bowl
Qing dynasty, Daoguang period 1821-1850
- Medium
- porcelain
- Measurements
- 5.4 × 10.4 cm diameter
- Place/s of Execution
- Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, south-east China, China
- Inscription
- painted in brush and blue ink on base (in Chinese characters) c.: (mark of Daoguang period)
- Accession Number
- 2051-D3
- Department
- Asian Art
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Bequest of Dr G.E. Morrison, 1921
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Gordon Darling Foundation - Gallery location
- 17th Century & Flemish Paintings Gallery
Level 2, NGV International - About this work
-
The five-clawed dragon was a motif associated with the Chinese emperor. By the Qing dynasty, robes embroidered with the five-clawed dragon became an important part of the emperor’s regalia. Because of its auspicious associations, the dragon frequently appeared on objects intended for use at the imperial court. By the sixteenth century, dragons were freely used as motifs on objects intended for public consumption, provided the dragon had only four claws – the five-clawed version was reserved for court use. The dragons on the exterior of this tea bowl each sport with a flaming pearl, a Buddhist emblem of wisdom.
- Physical description
- With everted rim; interior with five clawed dragon and cloud scrolls on blue ground medallion; exterior with two five clawed dragons, flaming pearls and cloud scrolls on blue ground, double lotus petal foot band.
