Pater Gratia Oriental Art

Sold Ceramics

 

Sold Batavia Brown (Capucin wares) 1700-1800

 

Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares

 

Page 2

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

2010983
2010983

Sold Ceramics - Sold Batavia Brown (Capucin wares) 1700-1800 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares - Page 2

 

Object 2010983

 

Teacup and saucer

 

China

 

1730-1750 

 

Height of teacup 37 mm (1.57 inch), diameter of rim 65 mm (2.72 inch), diameter of footring 26 mm (2.54 inch), weight 41 grams (1.44 ounce (oz.))

Height of saucer 22 mm (0.94 inch), diameter of rim 107 mm (4.53 inch), diameter of footring 60 mm (2.52 inch), weight 79 grams (2.79 ounce (oz.))

 

Teacup and saucer on footrings, slightly everted rims. Batavia Brown covered with underglaze dark brown, iron-red, gold and various overglaze enamels with a two birds near a fence in a garden landscape. The teacup is decorated en suite.

 

Condition teacup: Perfect.

Condition saucer: And tension glaze hairlines, only visible on one side, caused by the firing process and three small and shallow fleabites the reverse rim.

 

Price: Sold.

 

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2012296
2012296

Sold Ceramics - Sold Batavia Brown (Capucin wares) 1700-1800 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares - Page 2

 

Object 2012296

 

Teapot

 

China

 

1730-1750

 

Height 131 mm (5.16 inch), diameter handle to spout 175 mm (6.89 inch), diameter of footring 55 mm (2.17 inch), weight with cover 416 grams (14.67 ounce (oz.)), weight cover 84 grams (2.96 ounce (oz.))

 

Teapot of globular shape on footring, straight spout with a curved C-shaped handle. Domed cover and a pointed knob. Batavia Brown covered with underglaze dark brown. Decorated in underglaze blue. On the body two fan-shaped reserves containing a bird perched upon a flowering branch and two small reserves filled with a single flower spray. The cover is similarly decorated en suite.

 

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

  

Condition: Perfect.

 

Reference:

Jörg 2002/2, p.120

 

Price: Sold.

 

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2011786
2011786

Sold Ceramics - Sold Batavia Brown (Capucin wares) 1700-1800 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares - Page 2

 

Object 2011786

 

Teacup and saucer

 

China

 

1730-1750 

 

Height of teacup 40 mm (1.57 inch), diameter of rim 69 mm (2.72 inch), diameter of footring 35 mm (2.54 inch), weight 48 grams (1.69 ounce (oz.))

Height of saucer 24 mm (0.94 inch), diameter of rim 115 mm (4.53 inch), diameter of footring 64 mm (2.52 inch), weight 86 grams (3.03 ounce (oz.))

 

Moulded teacup and saucer on footrings, slightly everted rims. Batavia Brown covered with underglaze dark brown and underglaze-blue with a squirrel looking up at branches of vine. The teacup is decorated en suite.

 

In traditional Chinese and Japanese cultures, images of squirrels and grapes together formed a rebus signifying a wish to have many sons. Squirrelsand grape images appear in Chinese painting as early as the thirteenth century an in Chinese porcelain as early as the sixteenth century. Japanese decorators began using the design on Kakiemon-style porcelains in the seventeenth century, and it spread to Europe in the eighteenth century. The design was first copied in Europe at the Meissen factory and was imitated later by many other factories in France and England, Because the Europeans did not know the origin of the design, they sometimes mistook the squirrelfor a rat and called it the 'rat and grape' design. (Impey, Jörg & Mason 2009, p.146, Fig, 102)

 

The depiction of vines with squirrels was a very popular, repeated pattern on a range of craftwork since the Ming Dynasty, but especially on porcelain, stoneware and snuff bottles. The squirrel, which can bear offspring more than once a year, symbolizes fertility, as does the vine with abundant grapes, and both motifs were used primarily as auspicious symbols intended to bring to the recipient a great number of sons and grandsons. Symbolism of this kind was developed as early as in the Tang Dynasty and later also reached Japan, where similar patterns always represented a tradition adopted from continental Asia, The pattern appeared quite frequently on Chinese porcelain as is demonstrated by several examples in a range of collections worldwide. (Suchomel 2015, p.228, cat.109)

 

For other objects decorated with the 'squirrel and grape' pattern, please see:

Condition teacup: Perfect.

Condition saucer: Three small and shallow rough spots to the footring.

 

References:

Impey, Jörg & Mason 2009, Fig, 102

Suchomel 2015, cat.109

 

Price: Sold.

 

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2011567
2011567

Sold Ceramics - Sold Batavia Brown (Capucin wares) 1700-1800 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares - Page 2

 

Object 2011567

 

Teacup and saucer

 

China

 

1730-1745

 

Height of teacup 49 mm (1.92 inch), diameter of rim 80 mm (3.15 inch), diameter of footring 38 mm (1.49 inch), weight 60 grams (2.12 ounce (oz.))

 

Height of saucer 24 mm (0.94 inch), diameter of rim 127 mm (5.00 inch), diameter of footring 67 mm (2.63 inch), weight 102 grams (3.60 ounce (oz.))

 

Teacup and saucer on footrings. Batavia Brown covered with underglaze light brown. Decorated in 'Red & Gold' / 'Rouge-de-fer' with iron-red and gold (only visible in ghost from) on the glaze. On the centre of the saucer a decoration of a single flower head surrounded by two leaf-shaped and two rectangular-shaped cartouches filled with flowering plants and half flower heads with leafy branches. The reverse is covered with underglaze light brown. The teacup is decorated en suite.

 

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 teacup: Perfect, the decoration in gold has rubbed off completely but is still visible in 'ghost' from.

Condition saucer: A firing flaw in the centre and the decoration in gold has rubbed off completely but is still visible in 'ghost' from.

 

References:

Jörg & Van Campen 1997, cat. 143

Jörg 2002/2, cat. 82

 

Price: Sold.

 

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2011251
2011251

Sold Ceramics - Sold Batavia Brown (Capucin wares) 1700-1800 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares - Page 2

 

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

Jörg 2002/2, cat. 82

 

Price: Sold.

 

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2011976
2011976

Sold Ceramics - Sold Batavia Brown (Capucin wares) 1700-1800 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares - Page 2

 

Object 2011976

 

Teacup and saucer

 

China

 

1720-1750

 

Height of teacup 43 mm (1.69 inch), diameter of rim 82 mm (3.22 inch), diameter of footring 39 mm (1.54 inch), weight 70 grams (2.47 ounce (oz.))

Height of saucer 23 mm (0.91 inch), diameter of rim 135 mm (5.31 inch), diameter of footring 72 mm (2.83 inch), weight 111 grams (3.92 ounce (oz.))

 

Teacup and saucer on footrings, slightly everted rims. Batavia Brown covered with underglaze dark brown. 

Chinese Imari, decorated in underglaze blue, overglaze iron-red and gold with a central flower spray in a roundel surrounded by wave-shaped panels filled with a riverscape alternating with a flowering plant growing from rockwork. On the rim a zig zag lines-pattern border with reserves filled with flowerheads. The teacup is decorated en suite. On the base of the saucer an old rectangular paper collectors label with the handwritten number '185' in blue ink.

 

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 color 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 is known in China as shanyu huang (eel yellow) or shan yu pi (eel-skin), that belongs to the family of tea-dust glazes (chayemo). (Sargent 2012, p. 533)

 

Condition:

Teacup: Perfect.

Saucer: A tiny fleabite to the rim and some fleabites to the footring.

 

References:

Jörg 2002/2, p.120

Sargent 2012, p.533

 

Price: Sold.

 

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2010429
2010429

Sold Ceramics - Sold Batavia Brown (Capucin wares) 1700-1800 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares - Page 2

 

Object 2010429

 

Teapot

 

China

 

1730-1750

 

Height 127 mm (5.00 inch), diameter handle to spout 185 mm (7.28 inch), diameter of footring 56 mm (2.21 inch)

 

Teapot of globular shape on footring, straight spout with a curved C-shaped handle. Domed cover and a pointed knob. Batavia Brown covered with underglaze dark brown. Decorated in underglaze blue. On the body two large reserves containing a jardinière filled with flowering plants and two small reserves filled with a single flower spray. The cover is similarly decorated with two large reserves containing a jardinière filled with flowering plants and two small reserves filled with a single flower spray.

 

The jardinière or flower basket was an immensely popular design in the Netherlands. It was apparently regarded as very Chinese and exotic, while at the same time being recognisable and fitting in with Western imagery. The motif was often used on Delftware and in particular on "Amsterdams Bont", the Dutch name for underglaze blue or plain white Chinese porcelain, overdecorated in Delft and elsewhere in enamels. The flower basket represents Lan Cai He, one of the Eight Immortals, patron Saint of gardeners and florists.  (Jörg & Van Campen 1997, p.96), (Sjostrand & Lok Lok 2007, pp. 271-278)

 

Condition: A chip and a tiny glaze fleabite to the tip of the spout.

 

References:

Jörg & Van Campen 1997, cat. 86

Jörg 2002/2, cat. 82

Sjostrand & Lok Lok 2007, pp. 271-278

 

Price: Sold.

 

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2010304
2010304

Sold Ceramics - Sold Batavia Brown (Capucin wares) 1700-1800 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares - Page 2

 

Object 2010304

 

Teacup and saucer

 

China

 

1730-1750 

 

Height of teacup 32 mm (1.26 inch), diameter of rim 60 mm (2.36 inch), diameter of footring 32 mm (1.26 inch)

Height of saucer 19 mm (0.75 inch), diameter of rim 100 mm (3.94 inch), diameter of footring 60 mm (2.36 inch)

 

Teacup and saucer on footrings, slightly everted rims. Batavia Brown covered with underglaze dark brown and underglaze-blue with four ducks, one in flight, one just about to enter the water head first and two walking near / through shore vegetation. On both rims a zig-zag lines pattern border.

 

A decoration of ducks on tea wares, may have been met with amazement by Westerners, who would have considered this combination as weird. (Jörg 2011/2, p.131)

 

Condition

Teacup: Perfect.

Saucer: Perfect.

 

References:

Jörg 2002/2, cat. 82

Jörg 2011/2, p.131

 

Price: Sold.

 

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2010447
2010447

Sold Ceramics - Sold Batavia Brown (Capucin wares) 1700-1800 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares - Page 2

 

Object 2010447

 

Teacup and saucer

 

China

 

1730-1750

 

Height of teacup 38 mm (1.50 inch), diameter of rim 65 mm (2.56 inch), diameter of footring 34 mm (1.34 inch)

Height of saucer 21 mm (0.83 inch), diameter of rim 115 mm (4.53 inch), diameter of footring 62 mm (2.44 inch)

 

Teacup and saucer on footrings, slightly everted rims. Batavia Brown covered with underglaze light brown. Polychrome decorated in various, famille rose, overglaze enamels. In the centre of the saucer a single flowering peony surrounded by three small petal-shaped reserves filled with flower sprays. The reverse is undecorated. The outside of the teacup has a similar decoration of three small petal-shaped reserves filled with flower sprays. On the bottom a single flowering peony spray.

 

Dutch collectors traditionally call this type of light brown glaze zeemleer, 'wash-leather'; in French it is known as café au lait. (Jörg & Van Campen 1997, p.136)

 

Condition:

Teacup: Perfect.

Saucer: Perfect.

 

References:

Jacquemart & Le Blant 1862, pp.77-105

Jörg & Van Campen 1997, cat. 142

Jörg 2002/2, cat. 82

Jörg 2003/2, cat. 8

 

Price: Sold.

 

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