Plate decorated in enamels with "Dum Sisto Vigilo", Arms of Gordon quartering Badenoch and Fraser
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Object Label
Many mass-produced blue-and-white table wares were personalized for Western customers by adding coats of arms and other decorative details. The personalized elements were added on top of the glaze, in enamels that were fused to the surface in a lower-temperature firing. The enameling was often done in the area around the commercial port of Canton (modern-day Guangzhou), where most of the trade in export porcelains took place.
Caption
Chinese , for the English market. Plate decorated in enamels with "Dum Sisto Vigilo", Arms of Gordon quartering Badenoch and Fraser, 1770–1785. Porcelain, diameter: 9 3/4 in. (24.8 cm) overall: 1 3/4 x 9 3/4 in. (4.4 x 24.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, The Helena Woolworth McCann Trade Procelain Collection, Gift of the Winfield Foundation, 55.10.20. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.55.10.20_overall.jpg)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Title
Plate decorated in enamels with "Dum Sisto Vigilo", Arms of Gordon quartering Badenoch and Fraser
Date
1770–1785
Medium
Porcelain
Classification
Dimensions
diameter: 9 3/4 in. (24.8 cm) overall: 1 3/4 x 9 3/4 in. (4.4 x 24.8 cm)
Credit Line
The Helena Woolworth McCann Trade Procelain Collection, Gift of the Winfield Foundation
Accession Number
55.10.20
Rights
Creative Commons-BY
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Frequent Art Questions
What's an armorial?
An armorial is a visual device that a family or group may use to identify themselves and their possessions. Armorials can include specific colors, animals, and other symbolic elements, as well as a mottos or honorary phrases. The Gordon family arms contains the motto 'DUM SISTO VIGILO' which translates to 'Whilst I remain, I watch'.Are pieces like these where the term "fine china" comes from?
Yes, exactly! Because the Chinese were the first to make porcelain, the material came to be called "china" in the West. Europeans were amazed by porcelain.; to them it was a mystery substance: pore-less, pure white, translucent when held to the light, and able to hold boiling hot water without cracking! In the late middle ages it was even believed that porcelain would neutralize poison.Tell me more!
When Europeans first saw Chinese porcelain, they were amazed by the poreless, white substance that could hold boiling hot water and was translucent when held to the light! Europeans had no idea how to make porcelain,and only the wealthiest people could afford imported Chinese porcelain. Wealthy families demonstrated their wealth on the dinner table, using porcelain with family heraldry that was specially commissioned from Chinese potters.Do you have any idea what the turnaround time might have been in the 18th century on a custom order such as this? An English customer dealing with a Chinese craftsman in the 18th century might have necessitated a considerable task! No internet ordering in those days. The entire process might have been considerably lengthy.
I'm sure the process was lengthy, yes! Although I will say that the crest itself was not part of the normal glazing process. Plates like this would be made in larger quantities and then the enamel coat of arms would be added over the top at port cities like the commercial port of Canton.Are these replicas?
Just about everything you see in our museum is original pieces! Any replicas will be noted in the label. All of these ceramic pieces are centuries old, made in Europe and Asia.I'm curious, what would make you think they are replicas?Because they are in such good condition! I could not believe they are originals.It's true that ceramics will break if they are dropped, for example, but other than that they are very durable! Because of the high temperatures of the firing process, glazes keep their color and the clay bodies keep their shape.Our collection includes intact ceramics from as many as 5000 years ago!Thank you.
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