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Object 2012086
Teapot
China
1730-1735
Height (with cover) 118 mm (4.65 inch), height (without cover) 83 mm (3.27 inch), diameter handle to spout 169 mm (6.65 inch), diameter of mouthrim 55 mm (2.17 inch), diameter of footring 52 mm (2.05 inch), weight with cover 356 grams (12.56 ounce (oz.)), weight cover 84 grams (2.96 ounce (oz.))
Globular teapot on footring, curved handle with a straight spout, domed and pierced cover with knob. Polychrome decorated in iron-red, gold, black and other overglaze enamels with a continuous river scene with a fisherman's boat, trees near a rocky bank, pagodas, pavilions a watchtower and a bridge with two figures, one walking the other on horseback. Round the rim a foliate and floral scroll border. The cover is decorated en suite.
The decoration shows a river scene with pagodas and pavilions which to contemplate the surrounding nature far from civilisation, a common theme on porcelain, especially from the mid-17th century onwards. The theme appears on ordinary as well as on expensive, high-class, and will certainly have been appreciated by Chinese scholars, who cherished a tradition of going back to nature and a simple life, leaving behind the stress of office or court for a time. Europeans, too, will have enjoyed such decorations as they gave an idealised impression of the Chinese countryside, thus confirming their romantic ideas about the Middle Kingdom. (Jörg & Van Campen 1997, p. 219)
For an identically decorated teapot and cover, please see:
Condition:
Teapot: A popped bubble of glaze with a tiny firing tension hairline to the handle, a chip, two frits and glaze rough spots to the tip of the spout.
Cover: A glaze rough spot to the knob and a chip with a hairline to the rim.
References:
Jörg & Van Campen 1997, p. 219
Price: Sold.
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Object 2010747
Tea bowl and saucer
China
1730-1745
Height of tea bowl 45 mm (1.77 inch), diameter of rim 75 mm (2.95 inch), diameter of footring 35 mm (1.37 inch), weight 51 grams (1.80 ounce (oz.))
Height of saucer 23 mm (0.91 inch), diameter of rim 121 mm (4.76 inch), diameter of footring 66 mm (2.60 inch), weight 96 grams (3.39 ounce (oz.))
Tea bowl and saucer on footrings with moulded walls and lobed underglaze brown-edged rims (jia mangkou). Decorated in iron-red and gold and green, white and black enamel with a central flower spray surrounded by three flower sprays. Round the rim a spearhead-pattern border. The reverse is undecorated. The tea bowl is decorated en suite.
Condition saucer: A firing flaw to the inner rim.
Condition tea bowl: Perfect.
Price: Sold.
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Object 2011041
Dish
China
1720-1730
Height 40 mm (1.57 inch), diameter of rim 225 mm (8.86 inch), diameter of footring 134 mm (5.28 inch), weight 369 grams (13.02 ounce (oz.))
Dish on footring with a straight underglaze brown-edged rim (jia mangkou). Decorated in underglaze blue and famille verte enamels, iron-red, blue, yellow, gray, black enamel and gold with a tree and various flowering plants in a central roundel, The sides are undecorated. Round the rim four cartouches filled with flowering plants reserved on a diaper pattern border. 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 popped bubble of glaze, caused by the firing process, a firing flaw and a fleabite to the rim.
References:
Price: Sold.
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Objects 2010778 and 2010779
Two tea caddies
China
1730-1740
2010778: Height including cover 114 mm (4.49 inch), height excluding cover 101 mm (3.98 inch), dimensions 63 mm (2.48 inch) x 62 mm (2.44 inch), weight with cover 265 grams (9.35 ounce (oz.)), weight cover 7 grams (0.25 ounce (oz.))
2010779: Height including cover 118 mm (4.64 inch), height excluding cover 100 mm (3.94 inch), dimensions 66 mm (2.60 inch) x 67 mm (2.64 inch), weight with cover 277 grams (9.77 ounce (oz.)), weight cover 6 grams (0.21 ounce (oz.))
Two tea caddies of square form with canted corners, four flat feet at the corners, flat shoulder with a short unglazed upright neck. The original covers are missing and replaced with wooden covers. Polychrome decorated in iron-red, gold and various overglaze enamels with flowering plants and a grass hopper alternating with flowering lotus and lily and a crane with a bird in flight. Round the shoulder a floral border on an iron-red speckled ground. On the flat shoulder, in each corner, a single flower spray. On the base of object 2010779 an old rectangular paper label that reads: 'Period of Emperor K'ANG-HSI 1660-1722'.
For an identically shaped, sized and decorated, sold tea caddy, please see:
For an identically shaped and sized and similarly decorated, sold tea caddy, please see:
Condition:
2010778: Some glaze rough spots to the edges and a fleabite and frit to the mouthrim.
2011779: Some glaze rough spots to the edges.
Price: Sold.
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Object 2011980
Saucer
China
c.1730
Height 33 mm (1.30 inch), diameter of rim 155 mm (6.10 inch), diameter of footring 90 mm (3.54 inch), weight 114 grams (4.02 ounce (oz.))
Saucer on footring, spreading straight sides. Decorated in overglaze iron-red, gold and black enamel with two birds perched on a rock flanked by various flowering plants and a butterfly in flight. Round the rim a floral scroll border with flower heads. The reverse is undecorated.
This saucer is a good example of a very varied group from the Yongzheng period (1723-1736) painted with birds and insects which was probably appreciated by 18th century Chinese as well as Western buyers.
For a similarly sized and shaped saucer, decorated with a remarkable combination of shells, flowers, plants and butterflies. please see:
For a sold and published Yongzheng bowl decorated with butterflies insects, please see:
Condition: Wear to the decoration, three hairlines, two fleabites a frit and a frit with a connected hairline to the rim. A X-shaped hairline to the base.
Reference:
Price: Sold.
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Object 2012295
Teacup and saucer
China
1730-1735
Height of teacup 33 mm (1.30 inch), diameter of rim 55 mm (2.17 inch), diameter of footring 22 mm (0.87 inch), weight 26 grams (0.92 ounce (oz.))
Height of saucer 20 mm (0.79 inch), diameter of rim 98 mm (3.86 inch), diameter of footring 54 mm (2.13 inch), weight 43 grams (1.51 ounce (oz.))
Small teacup and saucer on footring, spreading sides and everted rims. Polychrome decorated in iron-red, black and gold with two butterflies facing each other on the sides three flower sprays. The reverse is undecorated. The teacup is decorated en suite.
The butterfly is the symbol of joy, marital bliss, summer and happiness and a favourite subject in poems and paintings. Sometimes it is called the 'Chinese Cupid' after a story about a young student. When he was chasing a butterfly he entered a garden where he met the beautiful daughter of a retired magistrate. He was so taken with her charms that he decided to work hard at his studies and to become a success so that he could ask for her hand in marriage. The butterfly dancing among blossom chalices may symbolize the man who refreshes himself with the love of a woman. (Hartog 1990, p.149 & p.151)
Condition:
Teacup: A fleabite and a frit to the rim.
Saucer: Some wear to the decoration.
Reference:
Price: Sold.
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Object 2012283
Dish
China
1730-1735
Height 27 mm (1.06 inch), diameter of rim 223 mm (8.78 inch), diameter of footring 112 mm (4.41 inch), weight 298 grams (10.51 ounce (oz.))
Dish on footring, flat underglaze brown-edged rim (jia mangkou). Decorated in various enamels, such as blue, iron-red, pink, turquoise and yellow in the centre with a two-handled flowerpot standing on a low tablle, filled with a pomegranate, finger lemon or Buddha’s Hand citron and a peach. On the sides four flowering irises. On the rim four groups of flowers and objects: a pomegranate peel and a lotus flower bound together with a calligraphy brush and a halberd, alternating with a lotus flower with a bowl of dried seeds on top bound together with a chrysanthemum flower and a ruyi sceptre. On the reverse two flowering peony sprays.
In the flowerpot three fruits are visible which all play a distinctive role in Chinese symbolism as well as daily life; the pomegranate, finger lemon and peach.
The pomegranate (punica granatum), here to the left, is not indigenous to China. It was introduced in the Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) from Afghanistan. As a flowering shrub, with its handsome single and double blossoms, ranging in colour from white through pale pink to dark red, it is much cultivated in China.
Pomegranate blossom, fruit and seeds, illustration by Otto Wilhelm Thomé (1840-1925), Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz in Wort und Bild für Schule und Haus (Flora of Germany, Austria and Switzerland in Word and Picture for School and Home), Germany 1885
The flowers are used with iron to make a hair-dye, the root is given as a tonic, and the dried pericarp or peel (as shown on the rim of this dish) is regarded as an astringent and anti-rheumatic remedy and also prescribed in the treatment of dysentery and diseases of the eye.
In Chinese, the pomegranate is called shi liu (石榴). Shi liu sounds the same as ‘sixteen’ and because of that the pomegranate is associated with commemorating a sixteenth birthday. In symbolism, a pomegranate may also represent a wish for a title to be continued into the next generation as shì means ‘generation; noble’.
The half-opened fruit reveals numerous seeds in auspicious red. The word seeds, zi, is in Chinese homophonous to zi meaning children or sons. Thus, the pomegranate became a well-established emblem of fertility and abundant male offspring. A picture of children with a ripe, half-open pomegranate is a very popular wedding present. It will bear the inscription liú kāi bǎi zi, (ǐ榴开百子), ‘the pomegranate brings forth a hundred seeds/sons.’
The pomegranate blossoms in the 5th Chinese lunar month, in the summer. Together with the orchid, iris and wild apple it is one of the blossoms of the four seasons.
The fingered lemon (var. citrus sarcodactylis) or Buddha’s Hand (foshou;佛手柑) is an inedible bright yellow citron with long segments that grow out of its stem, which resembles the hand position of the Buddha in meditation (dhyana mudra).
A lone citron is often regarded as representing ‘happiness’ and ‘longevity’. This is because the similarity in sound of ‘Fo’ (Buddha) and ‘Fu’ (happiness) and ‘shou’ which depending on the pronunciation can mean both hand and longevity. Buddha's hand fruit is very fragrant and is used predominantly in China, Malaysia and Japan for perfuming rooms and personal items such as clothing.
A. Poiteau: 'Limone digitata (multiforme)' (Citrus medica sarcodactylis), aquarel op perkament (watercolour on parchment), 1808
The peach (xiantao; 仙桃) tree or fruit in China is heavily overlaid with symbolism. Its wood and its colour kept demons at bay, its petals could cast spells on men and the peaches of immortality ripened only once in a thousand years. The peach is first of all a strong symbol of longevity; it is the symbol of the God of Longevity, Shoulao. It is also an emblem of marriage and springtime, because the peach tree blossoms in February, the time of the traditional Chinese New Year, an auspicious time to get married. Peach blossom is a standard decoration for the New Year. Like the pomegranate, it has many medicinal uses. For example, the fruit is said to be efficacious in lung diseases, the flowers are used as a laxative, the bark is given in jaundice or hydrophobia and the sap is a sedative.
Peach flower, fruit, seed and leaves, illustration by Otto Wilhelm Thomé (1840-1925), Germany 1885.
These three auspicious fruits combined are known as the Three Abundances or Three Plenties (sanduo; 三多). The pomegranate represents progeny, the peach longevity and the Buddha’s Hand happiness or spiritual blessings, in short, a wish for a long life, an abundance of sons and riches.
On the rim, we see four clusters of flowers and objects. One of the objects is a halberd (Ji;戟), a long-handled axe or pole axe, with one or two crescent-like blades on the side.
The Chinese Halberd or Ji (戟)
It shares a homophone with a number of auspicious meanings, such as ji meaning ‘good fortune, lucky, auspicious’ and also ‘steps’ as in ‘grades’; three halberds in a vase is a well-known motif for expressing the desire for three official promotions, which can be found frequently on textiles and porcelain.
Combined with a ruyi scepter or wish-granting wand the interpretation can be ‘May your luck and fortune be as you desire.’
The lotus (lian hua; 蓮花) also occurs prominently on the rim. It bears its flowers and seedpods simultaneously and is therefore a well-known symbol of fertility and prosperity. Liánzi (蓮子), its (dried) seed (here in bowls on top of the lotus) can mean either lotus seeds or is a pun for a full wallet or continuous sons. The lotus is the flower of the sixth month, the flower of summer. Like the pomegranate, the entire plant is also used medicinally, it is for example prescribed for both alcohol and mushroom poisoning.
The combination of pomegranate and lotus means ‘May you continuously give birth to sons.’ Shown together, they sent a prominent message of numerous progeny. The occurrence of both lotus and a ruyi sceptre or wish-granting wand carries the wish that ‘all your desires will come true year after year,’ the brush, bi, combined with a ruyi means the same. The presence of a chrysanthemum, familiar symbol of longevity, and the calligraphy brush of the scholar, bi, which is also a homophone for bi meaning ‘certainly’ or ‘surely’, seem to emphasize and enhance all these wishes even more.
Condition: A firing flaw, some frits and a chip to the inner footing, a fleabite and a short glaze hairline (only visible at the front) to the rim
References:
Williams 1976, p.51, pp.315-317, pp.332-333 & p.409
Eberhard 1986, p.50, pp.104-105, pp 240-241 & pp. 227-228
Bartholomew 2006, cat. 2.16, 3.17, 3.18, 3.23.5, 4.5, 5.11, 6.2, 7.11, 7.44, 7.44.3, 9.7.1 & 9.12
Bjaalland Welch 2008, p. 55, pp. 28-30, pp. 48-49, pp. 57-58,p. 253, pp. 258-259, p. 264
Ströber 2011, p. 75, pp. 156-157, p. 160, pp. 192-195
Price: Sold.
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Object 2011999
Dish
China
1700-1720
Height 30 mm (1.18 inch), diameter of rim 222 mm (8.74 inch), diameter of footring 122 mm (4.80 inch), weight 307 grams (10.83 ounce (oz.))
Dish on footring with a flat underglaze brown-edged rim (jia mangkou). Decorated in underglaze blue, iron-red, gold and overglaze green and black enamel, with a fish in a central roundel, surrounded by a border with flower heads and foaming waves. On the sides two fish alternating with flower sprays. The reverse is undecorated.
For a similarly decorated dish, please see:
- Oosterse keramiek uit Groninger kollekties, exhibition catalogue Groninger Museum, (C.J.A. Jörg, Martinipers/Wolters-Noordhoff, Groningen 1982), p.56, cat. 78.
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Sold Ceramics - Sold Polychrome wares other since 1722 - Page 1 - Object 2011102
The fish is a very ancient Chinese decorative motif. Scholars believe that the fish (and other aquatic creatures) were all strongly associated with the dragon and contributed to the eventual evolution of the dragon culture characteristic of China.
Fish (yu, 鱼) has a phonetic similarity with yu (裕) which means abundance. Images of fish symbolize plenitude and abundance, be it food, offspring, wealth or other riches. This explains why the fish pattern porcelain plate or bowl is so ubiquitous in China, even today. Who would not wish their dinner bowls to be always overflowing? Fish is always eaten during Chinese New Year, to bring the family an abundance of good wishes throughout the year.
Pairs of fish appear as early as the Zhou Dynasty (1027-256 BCE), but it was possibly the introduction of Buddhism into China that made them a particularly popular motif. Buddhism uses the motif of a pair of fishes as one of the Eight Buddhist Symbols. It signifies freedom from restraint.
Fish are thought to swim in pairs and appear to swim happily in their surroundings, so they are also the emblem of the joys of union and marital bliss. A happily married couple may be described as having ”the pleasures of fish in the water”, thus a pair of fish symbolizes harmony and mutual sexual pleasure.
Condition: Two firing flaws. A hairline with three tiny fleabites to the rim. A frit to the glaze on the sides.
References:
Bartholomew 2006, p. 36 & cat. 2.9, 4.11, 6.11, 7.18
Bjaaland Welsh 2008, pp. 96-100 & p. 243
Price: Sold.
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Object 2011105
Milk jug
China
1720-1730
Height including the cover 118 mm (4.65 inch), height excluding the cover 88 mm (3.46 inch), diameter 73 mm (2.87 inch), diameter of rim 33 mm (1.30 inch), diameter of footring 41 mm (1.61 inch)
Milk jug on footring, pear shaped body with handle, small triangular spout at the rim. The C-shaped handle is placed opposite the spout. Matching pierced cover with with pointed knob and underglaze brown-edged rim (jia mangkou). Decorated in underglaze blue, iron-red, gold and overglaze black and green enamel. The body is incised under the glaze with two groups of lotus flowers plants. On the body three scalloped panels filled with chrysanthemum flower heads on an underglaze blue ground. Near the foot a trellis-pattern border and round the footring a pointed leaves-pattern border. On the spout a single flowering branch and on the handle a floret between scrolls. The cover is decorated en suite.
Condition: A hairline to the rim of the body.
Reference:
Price: Sold.
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Object 2011005
Teacup
China
1730-1735
Height 39 mm (1.54 inch), diameter of rim 74 mm (2.91 inch), diameter of footring 34 mm (1.34 inch), weight 40 grams (1.41 ounce (oz.))
Teacup on footring, slightly everted rim. Polychrome decorated in iron-red, gold and overglaze blue and black enamel with a flowering prunus tree growing from taihu (garden) rocks, two birds resting on taihu (garden) rockwork, a bird perched on a branch of a bamboo tree and a bird in flight. Round the inner rim a floral scroll border with four small flower heads. On the bottom an orchid (cymbidium virescens). The matching saucer is missing.
The orchid (cymbidium virescens), the Lan Hua. is a motif commonly seen on fine Chinese export porcelain of around 1740.
Condition: A frit to the rim.
Price: Sold.
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Object 2011324
Teapot
China
1730-1740
Height with cover 122 mm (4.80 inch), height without cover 91 mm (3.58 inch), diameter handle to spout 172 mm (6.77 inch), diameter of rim 51 mm (2.00 inch), diameter of footring 59 mm (2.32 inch)
Teapot of globular shape on footring, straight spout with a curved C-shaped handle. The original cover is missing and replaced with a domed unmarked silver cover with a pointed knob. Decorated in underglaze blue, iron-red, gold and overglaze green and black enamel. On the body a flowering lotus and other flowering plants with two birds in flight, under the spout a single flowering lotus spray, on the spout and handle single flower sprays. Round the rim a foliate and floral border.
Only grown in China and Japan during the 17th Century, tea became known in the Netherlands early because the Dutch East India Company (VOC) shipped small quantities home. Its use as a beverage was established slowly, and was probably started by retired VOC employees who had become accustomed to drinking tea in the East. At a tea party, the expensive beverage was served in small teapots, one for each guest, filled with the leaves of the type he or she preferred. The tea was poured into small cups, while the teapot was refilled with hot water from a metal or sometimes ceramic kettle. (Jörg 2011/2, p.131)
Condition: Two chips to the tip of the spout and a glaze rough spot to the handle.
Reference:
Price: Sold.
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Object 2010310
Teacup and saucer
China
1730-1750
Height of teacup 42 mm (1.65 inch), diameter of rim 72 mm (2.83 inch), diameter of footring 32 mm (1.26 inch), weight 49 grams (1.73 ounce (oz.))
Height of saucer 24 mm (0.94 inch), diameter of rim 116 mm (4.57 inch), diameter of footring 72 mm (2.83 inch), weight 64 grams (2.26 ounce (oz.))
Teacup and saucer on footrings with straight underglaze brown-edged rims (jia mangkou). Both polychrome decorated in underglaze blue, iron-red, gold and other overglaze enamels. In the centre of the saucer a roundel with a lotus surrounded by a zig-zag lines pattern border and four cartouches filled with a flower head. On the interior wall two flowering prunus and orchid plants. The exterior wall is similarly decorated with two whole and two half chrysanthemum flower heads. The teacup is decorated on the exterior wall with two flowering prunus and orchid plants, round the foot a zig-zag lines pattern border and four cartouches filled with a flower head, On the bottom a single flowering lotus and on the interior wall two whole and one half chrysanthemum. Round the rim a zig-zag lines pattern border and four cartouches filled with a flower head.
The set is exquisitely decorated by the Chinese decorator in a Japanese Imari style, see the reverse side of the saucer.
Condition teacup: A fleabite to the footring.
Condition saucer: Perfect.
Reference:
Price: Sold.
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Object 2011362
Covered bowl
China
c.1780
Height including the cover 84 mm (4.65 inch), height excluding the cover 58 mm (3.46 inch), diameter of rim bowl 120 mm (1.30 inch), diameter of footring bowl 61 mm (1.61 inch), diameter of ring knob cover 120 mm (1.30 inch), diameter of mouthrim cover 110 mm (1.61 inch)
Bowl on footring, narrow spreading rim, domed cover with ring knob. Decorated in overglaze blue enamel and gold. On the outside of the bowl a blue enamel border with floral scrolls in gold. On the bottom a stylized border on the inner wall a border with Persian/Arabic writing/script and round the rim a blue enamel border with floral scrolls in gold. On the rim of the cover a blue enamel border with floral scrolls in gold. On top inside the ring knob a central roundel with Persian/Arabic writing/script, surrounded by a border of half circles. On the underside of the cover a wide border filled with Persian/Arabic writing/script,
Persian/Arabic writing/script was first introduced to Chinese porcelain in the fifteenth century. These kinds of writings on an object, often can be explained as a blessing or conveying some meaning. Considering the place used, this covered bowl was most likely made for the Middle East market and it is highly possible that the writing is conveying a religious message/blessing.
References:
Jörg & Van Campen 1997, cat. 11.
Price: Sold.
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