Pater Gratia Oriental Art

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There was great demand for Chinese porcelain in Europe at the end of the 17th century. This led to the production of a variety of shapes and decorations while the competition between private merchants also contributed to a very varied supply. Besides porcelain decorated in underglaze blue, famille verte and Chinese Imari, many other types emerged, decorated with overglaze enamels that were sometimes combined with underglaze blue. The most important development, however, was the use of a pink-red enamel around 1725. Porcelain decorated with this enamel is called famille rose. Within a very short time this type supplanted famille verte and became the popular choice for all kinds of export porcelain. Mixing the rose with white enamel created shades of colour that suggested depth and volume. Famille rose knows a great variety in quality and decorations. The name was invented in the 19th century; before that it was simply called 'enameled'. Rose enamel was first developed in the Imperial workshops in Beijing and applied on enameled copper and bronze objects. Western chemical knowledge introduced by the Jesuits at the court around 1700 probably played a role. Since c.1725 it also was used on porcelain in Jingdezhen. Initially, the colour had a lilac shade but became a proper pink after c.1730. It was applied rather thickly and, unlike the very thin iron-red, can easily be felt on top of the glaze. Rose was applied on all types of export porcelain and there are countless combinations with other enamels.

2011084
2011084

Sold Ceramics - Sold Famille Rose wares 1725-1800 - Other wares - Page 1

 

Object 2011084

 

Bowl

 

China

1730-1740

 

Height 65 mm (2.56 inch), diameter of rim 142 mm (5.59 inch), diameter of footring 70 mm (2.76 inch)

 

Bowl on footring, straight sides. Decorated in various famille rose enamels. iron-red and gold with a flowering peony and chrysanthemum plant growing from behind a fence and two cockerels with a single butterfly in flight. On the rim a leaves-shaped pattern border filled with flower heads and leafy branches on a blue enamel ground. On the bottom a single flower spray.

 

The motif of cockerels was popular on ko-akae and ko-sometsuke. The cock represents yang, the masculine principle, and a pair of fighting cocks symbolises courage and martial spirt. Bottles with this design have been found in tombs dated to 1628 and 1634. (Jörg 2011/2, p.17, cat. 6 & 7)

 

Condition: A hairline to the rim, some fine crazing to the glaze of the inside and a X-shaped glaze hairline to the base.

 

References:

Jacquemart & Le Blant 1862, pp. 77-105

Jörg 2003/2, cat. 8

Jörg 2011/2, p.17, cat. 6 & 7

 

Price: Sold.

 

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2011320
2011320

Sold Ceramics - Sold Famille Rose wares 1725-1800 - Other wares - Page 1

 

Object 2011320

 

Bowl

 

China

c.1790

 

Height 80 mm (3.15 inch), diameter of rim 168 mm (6.61 inch), diameter of footring 81 mm (3.19 inch)

 

Bowl on footring, straight sides. Decorated in various famille rose enamels, iron-red and gold on the outside two flower baskets with various scattered small flowers. On the bottom a single floer spray and around the inner and outer rim a beads-pattern border with a garland of beads. 

 

The scarce decoration has been applied with great detail in the style of English Lowestoft.

 

Condition: Perfect.

 

References:

Jacquemart & Le Blant 1862, pp. 77-105

Jörg 2003/2, cat. 8

 

Price: Sold.

 

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