Description:
Chinese export painted enamel teacup with a crabstock handle, decorated with purple, pink, yellow, blue and green scrolling flowers on a white ground and the entwined stems of carnations, tulips, and other flowers forming the initials "NLC" (?) on the side. The most common teaware form appearing in enameled metal is the hot water kettle; the use of enamel on copper for teacups rarely occurs given metal's ability to conduct heat. This cup's crabstock handle was common to English pottery teawares of the third quarter of the 18th century; rustic crabstock handles, spouts, and feet became popular naturalistic elements adopted by potters during the Rococo period. Although not readily apparent, this teacup appears to have been a special order made in Canton for the Western market with its well-painted decoration and initials. The technique of painting enamels on metals was introduced in China during the Kangxi reign (1662-1722), probably by Jesuit missionaries who believed that great religious advantages could be gained if the Emperor's fascination with European novelties could be maintained. Enameled metalwares did not appeal to the Chinese, but several Cantonese workshops manufactured examples designed for the foreign market. The artisan began with a strong metallic body, usually of bronze, copper, silver, or gold, covering the surface with white enamel, a material related to ceramic glazes that is opacified by the use of arsenic. The 1st low-temperature firing affixed the enamel but did not bond it securely to the metal body, accounting for the fragility of the ware; decorators then applied a variety of colored glazes to the white surface, sometimes within a finely engraved line. The piece was fired a 2cd time at a low temperature, and finished with black highlights and often gilding applied to the rims and mounts without firing.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+63.081 |
