Pater Gratia Oriental Art

Chinese Porcelain

 

Polychrome wares other since 1722

 

Page 1

2010C326
2010C326

Polychrome wares other since 1722 - Page 1

  

Object 2010C326

 

Tea bowl and saucer

 

China

 

1730-1735

 

Height of tea bowl 33 mm (1.30 inch), diameter of rim 66 mm (2.60 inch), diameter of footring 32 mm (1.26 inch), weight 29 grams (1.02 ounce (oz.))

 

Height of saucer 18 mm (0.71 inch), diameter of rim 100 mm (3.93 inch), diameter of footring 59 mm (2.32 inch), weight 43 grams (1.52 ounce (oz.))

 

Tea bowl and saucer on footring, spreading sides and slightly everted rims. Polychrome decorated in iron-red, black  blue, green, gold, a pink gold-wash and oxidised silver with two quails near a shore with various flowering plants. The reverse in undecorated. The teacup is decorated en suite.

 

Condition:

Teacup: Two very tiny fleabites to the rim.

Saucer: A tiny frit to the rim.

 

Price: € 799 Currency Converter

 

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2011903A
2011903A

Polychrome wares other since 1722 - Page 1

 

Object 2011903A

 

Teapot

 

China

 

1760-1770

 

Height with cover 150 mm (5.91 inch), diameter handle to spout 231 mm (9.09 inch), diameter of mouthrim 69 mm (2.72 inch), diameter of footring 69 mm (2.72 inch), weight including cover 449 grams (15.83 ounce (oz.)), weight cover 87 grams (3.07 ounce (oz.))

 

Teapot of globular shape on footring. Domed pierced cover with a pointed knob. Large moulded handle with thumb-rest, the end of the curved spout is shaped liked a birds neck and head. The cover is secured by a silver chain to the engraved mounts on the handle and around the knob, on the tip of the spout an engraved silver mount. Decorated in underglaze blue, iron-red, gold and various overglaze enamels with on either side a reserve outlined in low relief and filled with various flower spays flanked on the outside in each corner with a flower spray in underglaze blue. On the handle and spout a single flowering stem on the shoulder a narrow border with diaper pattern. The cover is decorated en suite. On the base an old rectangular paper collectors label with the handwritten number '96'. 

 

Condition: The glaze of the cover is finely crackled as the result of a difference in cooling between the glaze and the body after the firing process. 

 

Price: € 599 Currency Converter

 

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2010C239
2010C239

Polychrome wares other since 1722 - Page 1

 

Object 2010C239

 

Dish

 

China

 

1710-1730

 

Height 50 mm (1.97 inch), diameter of rim 300 mm (11.81 inch), diameter of footring 170 mm (6.69 inch), weight 858 grams (30.27 ounce (oz.))

 

Dish on footring with a straight underglaze brown-edged rim (jia mangkou). Decorated in underglaze blue and famille verte enamels, iron-red, black enamel and gold with a flowering tree in a central roundel surrounded by a spearhead border. On the sides four cartouches filled with flowering plants and flanked by half flower heads reserved on a stylized leafy ground with single flower heads On the rim four groups of flowering chrysanthemum and lotus plants amongst a stylized depicting of water. On the reverse two peony flower sprays.

 

Tree-worship was widely spread throughout China in ancient times, as is evidenced for a long time by the reluctance of the people to cut down trees in the neighbourhood of temples and graves. Often, the shrine of a local god was placed at the roots or in the fork of a tree remarkable for its size and beauty.  It was believed that the soul of the god resides in the tree, which is therefore held to be sacred. If dug up or cut down, the person doing so was liable to die. There are many references in Chinese literature to trees that bleed and utter cries of pain or indignation when hewed down. A strip of red cloth or paper is often attached to a tree in order to keep it safe from the spirits of evil, who always avoid that particular colour of happiness and good fortune. (Williams 1976, pp.407-408)

 

Condition: A Y-shaped hairline to the rim and a frit and two fleabites to the footring. 

 

References:

Williams 1976, pp.407-408

Sargent 2012, p.183

 

Price: € 599 Currency Converter

 

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2011479 and 2011480
2011479 and 2011480

Polychrome wares other since 1722 - Page 1

 

Objects 2011479 and 2011480

 

Pair of dishes

 

China

 

c.1720

 

2011479: height 47 mm (1.85 inch), diameter of rim 255 mm (10.00 inch), diameter of footring 145 mm (5.71 inch), weight 516 grams (18.20 ounce (oz.))

2011480: height 47 mm (1.85 inch), diameter of rim  260 mm (10.23 inch), diameter of footring 147 mm (5.79 inch), weight 518 grams (18.27 ounce (oz.))

 

A pair of fluted dishes on footrings, with gently curving ribbed sides, ribbed rims and scalloped underglaze brown-edges (jia mangkou). Polychrome decorated in iron-red, black, gold and other overglaze enamels. The central medallion shows a flowering peony, chrysanthemum and bamboo tree growing from pierced rockwork, in double concentric band. On the cavetto four groups of flowering chrysanthemum alternating with flowering peony. On the inside rim a decorative pattern border with four rosettes and four cartouches filled with a flower spray. On the exterior rim a decorative pattern border with four rosettes and on the exterior wall two flower sprays.

 

The Pæonia arborea, or tree peony, is an emblem of love and affection, King of flowers and a symbol of Spring and feminine beauty. The Chrysanthemum indicum is an emblem of mid-autumn and symbol of joviality. Flower of the 9th month and generally associated with a life of ease, and retirement from public office. The Bambusa arundinacea, or bamboo, is an emblem of longevity owing probably to its durability, and to the fact that it is evergreen and flourishes throughout the winter. It is commonly known as "the friend of China" and in ancient times bamboo tablets were used instead of books. (Williams 1976, pp.33-34, 69-70 & 320-321)

 

Condition:

2011479: A fleabite to the exterior rim and a shallow frit to the footring. Wear to the golden decoration.

2011480: Two firing flaws and two popped bubbles of glaze to the exterior rim. A shallow frit to the interior rim. Some wear to the iron-red decoration.

 

References:

Williams 1976, pp.33-34, 69-70 & 320-321

Sargent 2012, p.183

 

Price: € 899 Currency Converter

 

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2010680
2010680

Polychrome wares other since 1722 - Page 1

 

Object 2010680

 

Teacup and saucer

 

China

 

1740-1750

 

Height of teacup 38 mm (1.50 inch), diameter of rim 73 mm (2.87 inch), diameter of footring 37 mm (1.46 inch), weight 40 grams (1.41 ounce (oz.))

Height of saucer 21 mm (0.83 inch), diameter of rim 115 mm (4.53 inch), diameter of footring 66 mm (2.60 inch), weight 53 grams (1.87 ounce (oz.))

 

Teacup and saucer on footrings, slightly everted rims. Polychrome decorated in bianco sopra bianco with

a Chinese landscape with two pavilions among rocks and bushes. A huntsman in a pink coat and black hat and leggings carrying a stave runs after his black hound which is chasing a leaping stag. In the foreground two huntsmen in pink and blue oriental robes, each carrying a stave, are engaged in conversation. Round the rim is a bianco sopra bianco border,. The reverse is undecorated. The teacup is decorated en suiteOn the base of the teacup an old oval paper collectors label that reads: "525 Lo Litratse".

 

There are two patterns found on English and Chinese porcelain that can be dated to the early 1750s. One is with grisaille vine leaves and pink grapes the other is with the staghunt; a popular English chinoiserie pattern dating to the early 1750s and possibly to the late 1740s. it is frequently seen on Chinese porcelain painted in England and also on a small number of pieces thought to have been decorated in China in the late 1740-50s. The pattern was used widely by English factories: in famille rose enamels on Worcester 'scratch cross' (1753-56), on Gilbody (1754-58) and Chaffers (1758-62) of Liverpool, also on Derby (1758) and Lowestoft porcelain (1765-70). Worcester cups were decorated with the pattern in London in 1765-70, and Chamberlain reintroduced it at Worcester c.1792 called the 'Hunting pattern in compartments'. The scene is set in a Chinese landscape with two pavilions among rocks and bushes. A huntsman in a pink coat and black hat and leggings carrying a stave runs after his black hound which is chasing a leaping stag. In the foreground two huntsmen in pink and blue oriental robes, each carrying a stave, are engaged in conversation. Round the rim is a gilt spearhead border, A feature found on both Chinese and English porcelain examples is white enamel scrollwork and flowerheads surrounding the scene. This is known as bianco sopra bianco, a term applied to opaque white enamel decoration on tin glazed earthenware in Europe and copied in China on export porcelain as rim decoration, as a filler between panels or as all over decoration. Less subtle than anhua  'hidden' decoration, its success was short lived and was fashionable only from the 1730s until about 1750. Jill McNeile has studies the staghunt pattern and learned to distinguish between Chinese and English bianco sopra bianco scroll work. She has observed that many of the Chinese porcelain pieces decorated with the staghunt in England have Chinese bianco sopra bianco scrollwork either overall so that the English enamels are on top of the white enamel, or filling the spaces between the panels containing the English staghunt scenes, occasionally augmented by English bianco sopra bianco. These apparently have been exported with blank panels. Plain white porcelain decorated with white enamel would have been seen as very dull and probably unsaleable in England so it is not surprising that they were invariably over-decorated. Other variations seen are in the gilt border which is often in ruyi form, in the colour of the rocks which can be a combination of yellow and dark pink or maroon instead of black, and in the colour of the orchid-like flower inside some cups; Chinese painted flowers thought to be gold and English pink. Although there are many different versions of the staghunt on Chinese porcelain, as some closely resemble English factory decoration it is difficult not to conclude that both Chinese and English porcelain were often decorated by the same enamellers. (Espir 2005, pp.227-229)

 

The painting on this set is done in a fine and delicate way with soft enamel colours. When comparing this set to the English over-decorated set published in Helen Espir's book European Decoration on Oriental Porcelain 1700-1830, (H. Espir, Jorge Welsh Books, London, UK, 2005), p.228, cat. 30, one can only conclude that this set is probably one of the sets that Espir mentioned as being 'a small number of pieces thought to have been decorated in China in the late 1740s-50s'.

 

Bianco sopra bianco, (Italian: white on white), is a decorative technique of white enamel over white or undecorated glazed porcelain, usually to create a lace-like effect. It was common around 1740-1750. (Kroes 2007, p.653)

 

For a Chinese teacup and saucer, over-decorated in England with the stag-hunt design, please see:

For other objects overdecorated with the stag-hunt design, please see:

Condition:

Teacup: Some tiny fleabites and two frits to the rim

Saucer: Some tiny fleabites and two frits one with a short connected hairline to the rim.

 

References:

Jörg 1995, cat. 32

Espir 2005, pp.227-229 & cat. 30

Kroes 2007, p.653

Salisbury 2014, cat. 419

Emden 2015/1, cat. 127

Emden 2015/2, cat. 127

 

Price: € 499 Currency Converter

 

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2011061
2011061

Polychrome wares other since 1722 - Page 1

 

Object 2011061

 

Dish

 

China

 

c.1730

 

Height 29 mm (1.14 inch), diameter of rim 226 mm (8.90 inch), diameter of footring 112 mm (4.41 inch), weight 339 grams (11.96 ounce (oz.))

 

Dish on footring, flat underglaze brown edged rim (jia mangkou). Decorated in iron-red, gold and overglaze green, blue, pink and black enamel with flowering peony and chrysanthemum in a central roundel, surrounded by a border with floral scrolls in reverse decoration. On the sides three pomegranate shaped panels filled with ducks on a shore alternating with flower heads and flower sprays. On the rim reserves filed with flower heads on a swastika pattern ground. The reverse is undecorated.

 

Condition: Two hairlines and some very tiny glaze rough spots to the rim. A shallow fleabite and chip to the footring.

 

Price: € 299 Currency Converter

 

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2011412
2011412

Polychrome wares other since 1722 - Page 1

 

Object 2011412

 

Coffee cup

 

China

 

1740-1760

 

Height 65 mm (2.56 inch), diameter of rim 55 mm (2.17 inch), diameter of footring 26 mm (1.02 inch), weight 73 grams (2.96 ounce (oz.))

 

Coffee cup with handle on a footring and an underglaze brown-edged rim (jia mangkou). Polychrome decorated in black, gold and other overglaze enamels. Decorated with a shore landscape with nine ducks, (five in the water, three on land and one in flight), and three nests with eggs, a man is sitting against a tree trying to catch the ducks. Around the rim an intertwined scroll pattern border.

 

Condition: A frit to the rim and a firing tension hairline to the handle.

 

References:

Jörg 1982/1, fig. 46

Jörg 1986/1, fig. 56

Sargent 2012, p.183

 

Price: € 299 Currency Converter

 

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2010740
2010740

Polychrome wares other since 1722 - Page 1

 

Object 2010740

 

Teacup and saucer

 

China

 

1740-1760

 

Height of teacup 46 mm (1.81 inch), diameter of rim 85 mm (3.35 inch), diameter of footring 40 mm (1.57 inch), weight 62 grams (2.19 ounce (oz.))

Height of saucer 28 mm (1.10 inch), diameter of rim 144 mm (5.67 inch), diameter of footring 84 mm (3.31 inch), weight 115 grams (4.06 ounce (oz.))

 

Teacup and saucer on footrings with moulded walls in the shape of lotus leaves and scalloped rims. Covered with a light-celadon green glaze and decorated in underglaze blue, iron-red and gold with a river scape with pagodas, flowering plants and trees. On the rims a trellis pattern border. 

 

Condition saucer: Perfect.

Condition teacup: Perfect.

 

Price: € 299 Currency Converter

 

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2010746
2010746

Polychrome wares other since 1722 - Page 1

 

Object 2010746

 

Saucer

 

China

 

1730-1740

 

Height 17 mm (0.67 inch, diameter of rim 105 mm (4.13 inch), diameter of footring 61 mm (2.40 inch), weight 43 grams (1.52 ounce (oz.))

 

Saucer on footring, straight rim with six small indentations on the edge. Decorated in gold and overglaze blue and white enamel (en camaïeu)In the centre decorated with flower head, on the sides three sprays of flowering peony branches  On the rim a leaves and flower heads pattern border. The reverse is undecorated.

 

The French term, 'en camaïeu', is used to denote a painting almost exclusively done in just one enamel colour. The indented rim is characteristic of a group of well-enamelled tea-wares of a thin, pure body produced during the Yongzheng and Qianlong reigns. (Jörg 1995, p.80), (Jörg & Van Campen 1997, p.213)

 

Condition: Some wear to the gold decoration, a fleabite to the rim with a star-shaped hairline to the base.

 

References:

Jörg 1995, p.80

Jörg & Van Campen 1997, cat. 237

 

Price: € 99 Currency Converter

 

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