File:Östasiatisk keramik. Vattenbehållare med kran - Hallwylska museet - 95797.tif

English: Porcelain water fountain decorated in underglaze cobalt blue with gilding. Qing dynasty, c.1735-45. The fountain originally had an ornate matching bowl that would be placed beneath the spout. Hung on a wall, or placed on a side table, it contained water for European diners of the 18th century to wash their hands between the courses of meals. It was bought in Sweden by Wilhelmina’s great grandmother, who died in 1811, from a Baroness whose maiden name was Uggla. Admiral Claes Uggla (1614-76) is a famous military and naval figure in Swedish history, so family lore held that the fountain was owned by him. Unfortunately, it is of later date. Comparable fountains are in the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem and the RA Collection, Brazil. See: William R. Sargent Treasures of Chinese Export Ceramics From the Peabody Essex Museum (2012), no. No.44. Maria Antónia Pinto de Matos: The RA Collection of Chinese Ceramics: A Collector’s Vision (2011), no.204.