Summary
Brightly coloured earthenware tea cup decorated with birds, butterflies and figures, manufactured in China during the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), circa 1880.
The small Chinese court at the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition was located in the northern transept of the Royal Exhibition Building. Its principal feature was a large hexagonal temple that displayed tea from every province of China.
Physical Description
Earthenware tea cup. (One of two) Each teacup has a decorative floral design in green, pink, russet, blue and cream. Painted stems, leaves, and flowers border three 'window' designs. One window depicts a bird, insects, flowers and butterflies, another a duck on a lake, and the last an interior scene with figures in opulent costume. Some gilding appears to have originally been on the rim of each cup, but has rubbed off with use.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Cultural Gifts Donation from Dr Will Twycross, 23 Jan 2009
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Acknowledgement
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program
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Place & Date Made
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Place & Date Exhibited
Royal Exhibition Building (REB), Nicholson Street, Carlton, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1880-1881
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Collector
Mr John Twycross, Elsternwick, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1881
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Classification
Royal exhibition building, International exhibitions, Exhibition heritage
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
115 mm (Width), 70 mm (Height)
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Keywords
Chinese Art, Decorative Arts, Earthenware, Exhibitions: Melbourne International, 1880-1881, Royal Exhibition Building
