Terms and conditions of use
Pair of bottles
(late 17th century)
Medium
earthenware
Measurements
(1) 15.1 × 7.2 × 7.2 cm
(2) 15.2 × 7.2 × 7.2 cm
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Bequest of Arthur Allen, 1968
Gallery location
Not on display
About this work
This delftware pair of bottles is decorated in the style of Chinese Transitional porcelains and copies porcelain forms produced in Japan for export to Europe. The ultimate origin of the shape is, however, European. The square form is derived from glass bottles – originally intended to hold spirits like gin – carried by Dutch sailors to Japan. There, the Dutch commissioned Japanese potters to imitate such bottles in porcelain. The square bottle form eventually entered the Japanese porcelain repertoire, where versions of it were produced for domestic consumption.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Delft, Holland, the Netherlands
Accession Number
1885B.1-2-D5
Department
International Decorative Arts
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited