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Two Mandarin Ducks by a Lotus Pond: PD.266-1973

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Titles

Two Mandarin Ducks by a Lotus Pond

Maker(s)

Draughtsman: Canton workshop

Entities

Categories

Description

This is a Chinese export watercolour depicting two mandarin ducks (Aix galericulata) by a lotus pond. The male duck, standing on the ground by the pond, displays its characteristic ornate plumage with distinctive brown, blue, and white markings, while the female in the water shows more subdued brown colouring with scaled patterns. Both birds are rendered with careful attention to their distinctive features, including the male's decorative crest and the female's more modest patterning. The scene features a prominent pink lotus flower in full bloom at the right side, accompanied by large round lotus leaves (lily pads) in rich green with visible vein patterns. The water is depicted with a stylized wave pattern in pale blue-grey tones. The ground is depicted in subtle earth tones with mossy dots. The painting uses fine, detailed brushwork typical of Chinese export art from the late 18th or early 19th century, combining traditional Chinese bird-and-flower painting style with Western watercolour. Previously described as “waterlilies and two ducks, one in the water, the other on the land”.

Measurements and weight

Height: 404 mm
Width: 572 mm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1973) by Fairhaven, Henry Rogers Broughton

Dating

19th Century
Production date: circa AD 1820

School or Style

Chinese
Chinese export art

Materials used in production

Watercolour
Bodycolour

Components of the work

Support composed of paper

Techniques used in production

Watercolour : Watercolour and bodycolour on paper

Identification numbers

Accession number: PD.266-1973
Primary reference Number: 23108

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Thursday 28 August 2025

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Two Mandarin Ducks by a Lotus Pond" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/23108 Accessed: 2025-12-23 07:50:32

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/23108 |title=Two Mandarin Ducks by a Lotus Pond |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-23 07:50:32|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Two Mandarin Ducks by a Lotus Pond</figcaption>
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