Artwork
Man Selling Pottery Stoves
Man Selling Pottery Stoves is a paint painting by the Patna School of Painting artist Puqua. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This painting shows a man standing behind a table piled with round pottery stoves. He holds a small stove in one hand and a brush in the other, like he’s about to demonstrate how it works.
Made around 1790, it’s one of 100 paintings showing different trades in Canton. Europeans bought these to learn what daily life in China looked like.
It hangs at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Overview
A painting depicting a vendor selling pottery stoves, created around 1790 as part of a series of 100 works illustrating various occupations in Canton.
Subject & Meaning
The scene shows a man standing behind a table laden with round pottery stoves, holding a small stove and a brush, suggesting a demonstration of its use. The image offers a glimpse into a specific trade in 18th-century Canton.
History & Provenance
The painting is part of a set commissioned for European audiences seeking to understand Chinese culture and daily life. It is now housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Artist & collection
