Cleveland Museum of Art

Vase with flower arrangement and scrollwork

Date

c. 1750–1800

Medium

Gum tempera and gold on paper

Culture

Mughal India, Lucknow

Department

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The symmetry of the floral arrangement emerging from the blue-and-white porcelain vase reveals an idealized vision. The overflowing vase is among the most ancient motifs in Indian art, used to convey the concept of abundance. This image, made for an elite patron of northern India, implies the prosperity that has accrued from international connections. The vase, painted with a European-style landscape, is of the type that was made in China for export to Europe. The scrolling ornament on either side may be ultimately derived from Persian motifs, but reworked into a European style, painted by Indian artists. The blue bell-shaped flowers may be neelakurinji, which bloom once every twelve years.

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