Tea bowl
(c. 1740)
Medium
stoneware
Measurements
3.6 × 6.2 cm diameter
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Patricia Begg OAM Bequest, 2024
Gallery location
17th & 18th Century Decorative Arts & Paintings Gallery
Level 2, NGV International
About this work
Imitative of Asian lacquerware, the glaze and decoration on this tea bowl reflect the European desire for imported luxury goods. Lacquered furniture and objects first arrived in Europe from Asia in the sixteenth century and quickly became highly prized imports. The resin required to make authentic lacquerware did not survive the long journey to Europe, which significantly added to its rarity. Thus, unable to produce authentic lacquer, many craftsmen perfected the art of imitation through a range of means, as seen in the glossy black glaze over this tea bowl.