Tulip Vase, 168595
London, England
Tin-glazed earthenware
Lent by the Chipstone Foundation 1996.5
Mixing dissimilar motifs in surprising ways enhanced the "antick" character of Chinoiserie objects. The twelve-nozzled vase seen here features Japanese-style karakusa scrolls painted around the foot paired with sculpted animal heads whose tails become handles in the style of Italian grotesques. It would have held tulips, which were first brought to Europe from the Near East a century earlier. Other objects, including this mug and silver tankard, are adorned with carefree adaptations of foreign motifs. The joyously animated man on the enamelled stoneware mug is a quintessentially "antick" character.
Tankard, 1683
Marked "LS" (crowned)
London, England
Silver with flat-chased decoration
Lent by a private collection
Mug, 16901710
London, England
Salt-glazed stoneware with enamel decoration
Lent by the Chipstone Foundation 1994.11