Chinese Porcelain
Batavia Brown (Capucin) wares 1700-1800
Page 1
In the Netherlands, porcelain decorated in this type of underglaze brown has historically been called "Batavia Brown" or "Capucijnergoed" ("Chick-pea ware", after the legume). The first name may have been coined because most goods exported to The Netherlands from the East were sent via Batavia and has nothing to do with a Batavian production or decoration, It is a very common type with the decoration usually contained within medallions. Occasionally, a gold decoration has been painted on the brown glaze. The brown colour is achieved by using iron oxide as a pigment, which like underglaze blue, needs to be fired at high temperatures. Considerable quantities were exported to the Western and Inter-Asian markets from c.1700. The pieces are rarely refined and can be considered as articles for everyday use by the middle-classes. (Jörg 2002/2, p.120)
Batavia Brown (Capucin wares) 1700-1800 - Page 1
Object 2011251
Cup and saucer
China
1730-1745
Height of cup 55 mm (2.16 inch), height of foot 12 mm (0.47 inch), diameter of rim 86 mm (3.39 inch), diameter of footring 44 mm (1.73 inch), weight 107 grams (3.77 ounce (oz.))
Height of saucer 21 mm (0.83 inch), diameter of rim 138 mm (5.43 inch), diameter of footring 79 mm (3.11 inch), weight 104 grams (3.67 ounce (oz.))
Cup and saucer on footrings. Batavia Brown covered with underglaze light brown. Decorated in 'Red & Gold' / 'Rouge-de-fer' with iron-red, black enamel and gold on the glaze. On the centre of the saucer a decoration of a single flowering plant surrounded by two leaf and two fan-shaped cartouches filled with pagoda and a flowering lily plant growing form behind a fence. On the exterior wall three orchids (Cymbidium virescens), the Lan Hua. a motif commonly seen on fine Chinese export porcelain of around 1740. The exterior wall of the teacup two leaf and two fan-shaped cartouches filled with pagoda and a flowering lily plant growing form behind a fence. On the bottom a single flowering lily plant.
The high spreading foot and recessed base on the cup is unusual its a feature rarely seen Batavia Brown cups (or saucers).
This type in dark brown is traditionally called 'Batavia brown' or 'Capucijnergoed' ('Chicl-pea ware'. after the legume) in the Netherlands, 'capucin' or 'feuilles mortes' in French, or simply "brown glazed" in England and the United States. The brown colour is achieved by using iron oxide as a pigment, which like underglaze blue, needs to be fired at high temperatures. Considerable quantities were exported to the Western and inter-Asian markets from c.1700. The pieces are rarely refined and can be considered as articles for everyday use by the middle-classes. (Jörg & Van Campen 1997, pp.136-137), (Jörg 2002/2, p.120)
Condition cup: Perfect.
Condition saucer: Perfect.
References:
Jörg & Van Campen 1997, cat. 143
Price: € 299 - $ 335 - £ 261
(the $ and £ prices are approximates and depend on the € price exchange rate)
Batavia Brown (Capucin wares) 1700-1800 - Page 1
Object 2011028
Covered jar
China
1730-1745
Height including the cover 132 mm (5.20 inch), height excluding the cover 95 mm (3.74 inch), diameter 117 mm (4.61 inch), diameter of rim: 113 mm (4.45 inch), diameter of footring 68 mm (2.68 inch), weight with cover 497 grams (17.53 ounce (oz.)), weight cover 164 grams (5.79 ounce (oz.))
Covered jar on footring. A domed cover with ring knob. Batavia Brown covered with underglaze dark brown. Polychrome decorated in various, famille rose, overglaze enamels with flowering plants in all leaf-shaped medallions on the body and cover.
Porcelain decorated in this type of underglaze dark brown has historically been called 'Batavia Brown' or "Capucijnergoed" ('Chicl-pea ware'. after the legume). Occasionally, a gold decoration has been painted on the brown glaze. The term famille rose was first coined by the 19th-century French author Albert Jacquemart, who distinguished between specific groups in his descriptions of Oriental ceramics. (Jacquemart & Le Blant 1862, pp.77-105), (Jörg 2002/2, p.120)
Condition: Perfect.
References:
Jacquemart & Le Blant 1862, pp.77-105
Lunsingh Scheurleer 1968, cat. 137
Price: € 399 - $ 448 - £ 348
(the $ and £ prices are approximates and depend on the € price exchange rate)
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