Terms and Conditions
The artist, title and date of the work must be listed anywhere the image is reproduced:
Chinese
Tea bowl Qing dynasty, Daoguang period 1821-1850
porcelain
5.4 × 10.4 cm diameter
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Bequest of Dr G.E. Morrison, 1921
Photo: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Where possible, the image must be reproduced in full (no cropping or over-printing). If you wish to use a detail of the work, a full reproduction of the work must also be reproduced elsewhere in the publication.
While the NGV believes this work to be in the Public Domain, it is the responsibility of the publisher to ensure that no further permissions are required for use.
For a complete list of terms and condition of use see the National Gallery of Victoria’s copyright policy.
About this work
The five-clawed dragon was a motif associated with the Chinese emperor. By the Qing dynasty, robes embroidered with the five-clawed dragon became an important part of the emperor’s regalia. Because of its auspicious associations, the dragon frequently appeared on objects intended for use at the imperial court. By the sixteenth century, dragons were freely used as motifs on objects intended for public consumption, provided the dragon had only four claws – the five-clawed version was reserved for court use. The dragons on the exterior of this tea bowl each sport with a flaming pearl, a Buddhist emblem of wisdom.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, south-east China, China
Inscription
painted in brush and blue ink on base (in Chinese characters) c.: (mark of Daoguang period)
Accession Number
2051-D3
Department
Asian Art
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Gordon Darling Foundation