Moon flask with lid, bronze, gilding, enamel, height 41 cm, China, late 16th early 17th century, Kunstkamera, St. Petersburg.
Round flat vessels with a narrow neck have been known in many cultures since ancient times. In Europe, they were called pilgrim flasks or pilgrim flasks. Chinese vessels of a similar shape, which were called moon flasks, were coveted objects for European collectors of outlandish and exotic items, who added them to their cabinets of curiosities or cabinets of curiosities. There was such a rarity in the personal collection of Peter the Great. This is a bronze moon flask decorated with cloisonné enamel. A bronze moon flask is a great rarity; porcelain was a much more common material.
The Moon Flask was acquired by the Kunstkamera from Peter the Great’s own collection in 1725.
Chinese porcelain moon flasks were decorated with symbolic flowers, dragons or Buddhist emblems in blue and white tones. Some imperial Chinese porcelain moon jars are over 50 cm tall. Their manufacture required great technical skill, as pieces of this size tended to warp during firing.
Porcelain production inspired by Chinese styles came to Japan in the 17th century. In the second half of the 19th century, Japan’s period of self-isolation came to an end, and exports began to reach the West in large numbers. Asian art and design were presented at the London International Exhibition in 1862 and the Paris World’s Fair in 1867, inspiring European artists and designers with a new aesthetic.
Blue and white porcelain moon flask, height 24.5 cm, China, Ming Dynasty (1368 1644).
The 19th-century European fascination with oriental exotica stimulated the production of Chinese- or Japanese-style tableware and decorative objects by European ceramic makers. The moon jar became one of the most popular forms of artistic pottery of the period.
Along with the Japanese works, a small group of Minton porcelain designed by Christopher Dresser (1834-1904) was exhibited at the Paris Exhibition of 1867. Dresser was the first European designer to visit Japan in an official capacity. This pioneer of industrial design began working for Minton in the mid-1860s. Among his early designs were bone china moon flasks with Japanese decorative motifs. Moon flasks, a convenient round “canvas”, became a favourite shape for ceramic artists such as Marc-Louis Solon, Arthur Morgan, Henry Hollins, William Mussill, William Coleman.
Porcelain moon flask, flambé glaze, height 33 cm, China, Yongzheng reign period (1723 1735).
The moon flask shapes for Royal Worcester were designed by James Hadley. Such vases were exhibited at the Second London International Exhibition in 1872. Hadley’s original design sketches survive in the Royal Museum Worcester.
Porcelain moon flask, height 26 cm, China, Qianlong reign period (1736 1795).A pair of porcelain moon flasks, height 26 cm, China, Qing Dynasty, 19th century.A pair of porcelain moon flasks, height 50 cm, China, late 19th century.White jade moon flask with carved landscape, China, Qing Dynasty (1644 1911).Small Satsuma porcelain moon jar depicting a tennin playing a flute and children playing, Kinkozan workshop, Japan, late 19th century.Moon flask made of Satsuma porcelain, master Yabu Meizan, height 13.3 cm, Japan, late 19th century.Moon Flask decorated with cloisonné enamel, master Kyoto Namikawa, workshop of Namikawa Yasuyuki, height 17 cm, Japan, late 19th century.A Chinese celadon glazed moon flask in a silver gilt mount by William Elliott (London), h. 45.5 cm, 1827.A pair of Minton moon flasks, Christopher Dresser, height 50 cm, circa 1870.Porcelain moon flask with Cupid collecting hearts in a basket, painted by Marc Louis Solon using the pâte sur pâte technique, English firm Minton, height 25 cm, 1881.A pair of porcelain moon flasks painted by Henry Saunders, a pupil of Marc Louis Solon, using the pâte sur pâte technique, Minton, England, 1873.A pair of porcelain moon flasks painted in pâte sur pâte by Henry Hollins, a pupil of Marc Louis Solon, Minton, England, c.1882, Birmingham Museum of Art.Minton Moon Flask, painted with flowers and birds, W. Massill, late 19th century.Minton moon flask with popguy, W. Massill, late 19th century.A pair of moon flasks with scenes of work at different stages of ceramic production, English firm Royal Worcester, height 26 cm, circa 1872 1876.A pair of similar moon vases are reproduced in the catalogue of The Art journal of the International Exhibition of 1872.Royal Worcester porcelain moon flask, 26.7cm high, circa 1874.Royal Worcester porcelain moon flask, 1878, from the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.Porcelain moon flask by Coalport, England, late 19th century.Porcelain moon flask by Royal Doulton, England, late 19th century.Ceramic moon flask by Doulton Lambeth, England, late 19th century.A pair of ceramic moon flasks with gilded lids, probably painted by Jules Veillard, height 35 cm, France, late 19th century.Crystal moon flask with carved dragons, probably by William Fritzsche, Thomas Webb & Sons, England, height 32 cm, circa 1890.Mantel clock in the shape of a ceramic moon flask with dragon handles, painted in gilt on a cobalt background, height 79.5 cm, Paris, circa 1880.
