Wall vase
Category
Ceramics
Date
1700 - 1730
Materials
Porcelain, cobalt, enamel, gold.
Measurements
212 x 65 mm; 80 mm (Length)
Place of origin
Arita
Order this imageCollection
Saltram, Devon
NT 870939
Summary
Pair of wall vases, porcelain, in the shape of leaping carp, made in Arita, Hizen Province, Japan, early 18th century, decorated in underglaze blue and overglaze red and gold.
Full description
In both Japanese and Chinese culture, a leaping carp symbolises perseverance and the overcoming of obstacles. A similar carp-shaped wall vase is in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, inv. no. C.40-1998. Another, on a base simulating rocks, is in the same museum, inv. no. C.43A-1962, and is illustrated in Ayers, Impey and Mallet 1990 (cat. 178), as is another pair supported by swirling waves (cat. 179). Two carp-shaped wall vases, one of which is similar to the Saltram wall vases, was offered for sale at Sotheby’s London, 15 May 2020, lot 59.
Provenance
Accepted by HM Government in lieu of inheritance tax and allocated to the National Trust, 1957.
References
Ayers, Impey and Mallet 1990: John Ayers, Oliver Impey and J.V.G. Mallet, Porcelain for Palaces: The Fashion for Japan in Europe 1650–1750, London, 1990., Cats 178&179, p.189.