{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O176542"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O176542/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2012FE8814/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2012FE8814/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2012FE8814","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O176542/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O176542","accessionNumber":"C.134-1928","objectType":"Vase","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This thickly potted vase is made of porcelain and is painted with cobalt blue under the glaze. It has been formed in the shape of a double gourd. The gourd is closely associated with Daoism. Li Tieguai, one of the eight Daoist immortals is often depicted carrying a double gourd which was said to contain a magical elixir. It is symbolic of longevity, magic and medicine. The character 'Shou' meaning longevity is a common decorative motif on Chinese ceramics and it was often used to decorate birthday gifts in the hope that the recipient would enjoy a long life.","physicalDescription":"Thickly potted porcelain vase in the shape of a double gourd, painted with cobalt blue under the glaze with the character 'Shou' meaning Longevity,  repeated in various styles all over the vase.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"porcelain","id":"AAT10662"},{"text":"cobalt","id":"AAT221155"},{"text":"glaze","id":"AAT15091"}],"techniques":[{"text":"painted","id":"x30138"},{"text":"glazed","id":"AAT53914"},{"text":"fired","id":"AAT53887"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"}],"styles":[{"text":"Ming","id":"AAT18438"},{"text":"Jiajing","id":"AAT18461"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2012FE8814"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"44 (VA)","id":"THES49802"},"free":"","case":"PL050","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Vase","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Jingdezhen","id":"x32230"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1522-66","earliest":"1522-01-01","latest":"1566-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given from the Bloxam Collection","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"23.75","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"12.5","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Cer, China, Ming, vase","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Ayers, John, Far Eastern Ceramics in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Sotheby Parke Bernet, in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1980.","id":"AUTH403667"},"details":"Monochrome plate 159","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Rev. J.F. Bloxam","id":"N7823"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"gourd","id":"AAT11870"},{"text":"peaches","id":"x31068"},{"text":"plants","id":"AAT132360"},{"text":"Chinese characters","id":"x43412"},{"text":"trees","id":"AAT132410"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["C.134-1928"],"accessionNumberNum":"134","accessionNumberPrefix":"C","accessionYear":1928,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-06-08","recordCreationDate":"2008-12-03","availableToBook":false}}