Categories
Museum Object

7. Gin Bottle

Gallery:

China

Room / Case / #

33 / 34B / 6

The blue & white porcelain export trade to Europe

Gin Bottle:  From the 14th C China manufactured blue & white porcelain for the export trade to Europe. This 31cm tall four-sided porcelain bottle is in the highly popular underglaze blue decoration. The bottle is modelled on a European glass shape and would have been produced to order.  They were used mainly for spirits and were designed to be stored in wooden boxes for easy transportation, especially on ships. The coat of arms is that of a Portuguese family. Similar bottles are in collections in Portugal, Germany and in the Netherlands.

The bottle is dated to 1590-1610.