Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

The Barlow Collection

A select catalogue of the Barlow collection of Chinese Ceramics, Bronzes and Jades by the University of Sussex (published Sussex, 2006).

The Barlow Collection by the University of Sussex

Publications online: 456 objects

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White ware bowl with two dragons and clouds

  • loan
  • Literature notes

    Anhua (‘hidden decoration’) was a complicated decoration technique used mainly in the Yongle period (1403–1424) and rarely thereafter. The designs are very delicately moulded, probably in slip relief, and are generally visible only when the pieces are held against the light.

    The rounded bowl flares towards the rim and is supported on a straight foot. The inside is decorated in anhua with two dragons and two cloud motifs, impressed and one clearly visible against the light and in slight relief, the other hard to make out. The base is inscribed with a spurious six-character Yongle reign mark in a double ring, inscribed in thin lines in a pale underglaze-blue.
  • Details

    Associated place
    AsiaChinaJiangxi provinceJingdezhen Jingdezhen kilns (place of creation)
    Date
    Qing Dynasty, Kangxi Period (1661 - 1722)
    Associated people
    Yongle, Emperor of China (ruled 1403 - 1424) (named on object)
    Material and technique
    porcelain, thrown, with slip and incised (an hua) decoration under a white glaze; base with underglaze painting in cobalt-blue inscription
    Dimensions
    4.8 cm (height)
    9.4 cm (diameter)
    Material index
    Technique index
    Object type index
    No. of items
    1
    Credit line
    Lent by the Sir Alan Barlow Collection Trust.
    Accession no.
    LI1301.114
  • Further reading

    University of Sussex, and Arts and Humanities Research Council, The Barlow Collection, supervised by Regina Krahl, Maurice Howard, and Aiden Leeves (Sussex: University of Sussex, 2006), no. C87

Glossary (4)

glaze, porcelain, slip, underglaze painting

  • glaze

    Vitreous coating applied to the surface of a ceramic to make it impermeable or for decorative effect.

  • porcelain

    Ceramic material composed of kaolin, quartz, and feldspar which is fired to a temperature of c.1350-1400⁰c. The resulting ceramic is vitreous, translucent, and white in colour.

  • slip

    A semi-fluid clay applied to a ceramic before glazing either to coat the surface or for decorative effect.

  • underglaze painting

    Painting applied to ceramic material before a transparent, or monochrome or coloured glaze for Islamic objects, is applied. The technique was initially developed in China.

Location

    • currently in research collection

Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.

 

Publications online

  • The Barlow Collection by the University of Sussex

    The Barlow Collection

    Anhua (‘hidden decoration’) was a complicated decoration technique used mainly in the Yongle period (1403–1424) and rarely thereafter. The designs are very delicately moulded, probably in slip relief, and are generally visible only when the pieces are held against the light.

    The rounded bowl flares towards the rim and is supported on a straight foot. The inside is decorated in anhua with two dragons and two cloud motifs, impressed and one clearly visible against the light and in slight relief, the other hard to make out. The base is inscribed with a spurious six-character Yongle reign mark in a double ring, inscribed in thin lines in a pale underglaze-blue.
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Object information may not accurately reflect the actual contents of the original publication, since our online objects contain current information held in our collections database. Click on 'buy this publication' to purchase printed versions of our online publications, where available, or contact the Jameel Study Centre to arrange access to books on our collections that are now out of print.

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