Accession Number

2016.009.003a&b

Description

Large ceramic vase with a purple/magenta drip glaze with tan highlights. Handles appear to represent dragon-like creatures. Wide body and mouth with narrower neck. Interior is glazed. With modern carved wood pedestal (b).

Narrative

This late 19th Century Chinese flambé sang de boeuf vase was acquired at the Hatley Park auction by native Victorian, Bruce Brown (1914-2002), or his parents. It is depicted in two 1939 photographs of Hatley’s library. In the photographs the vase functions as a base for a table lamp. It is listed in the Hatley Park auction catalogue as lot “367 Chinese Flambre [sic] Sang de Boeuf Vase Lamp”.

Evidently, the Brown family removed the lamp components and used it as a decorative vase. The lamp modification had not involved drilling for wire nor did it cause any other damage. Chips on the bottom of the vase indicate that in the firing process, the thick glaze ran down the vase over the bottom edge which then required chipping off, a common occurrence with this type of glaze.

This vase was made circa 1880-1900 and is ideally suited for display in Craigdarroch’s Dunsmuir-era interiors. Its Dunsmuir provenance further enhances its value to the Primary Collection.

History of Use

This late 19th Century Chinese flambé sang de boeuf vase was acquired at the Hatley Park auction by native Victorian, Bruce Brown (1914-2002), or his parents. ​In 1987, he and his wife Dorothy gave the vase to Royal Roads Military College (RRMC). When RRMC closed, the vase was transferred (donated) by the Department of National Defence to the University of Victoria’s Maltwood Museum & Gallery, which has transferred (donated) the vase to The Castle Society.

Date

circa 1890

Dimensions

37 cm
31 cm

Material

Ceramic; Glaze

Technique

Glazed; Fired

Country of Origin

China