Sold Ceramics
Sold Blue and White wares since 1722
Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares
Page 1
Sold Ceramics - Sold Blue and White wares since 1722 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares - Page 1
Object 2010104
Teacup and saucer
China
1723-1735
Height of teacup 40 mm (1.57 inch), diameter of rim 66 mm (2.60 inch), diameter of footring 31 mm (1.22 inch)
Height of saucer 20 mm (0.79 inch), diameter of rim 115 mm (4.53 inch), diameter of footring 57 mm (2.44 inch)
Teacup and saucer on footrings, the teacup with a slightly everted rim, the saucer with a flat rim. Decorated in underglaze blue with a pagoda with its chimney smoking on a shore and two cranes flying above wild waves, on the rims a stylised laurel border. The reverse of the saucer is undecorated. The teacup is decorated en suite.
The crane (Grus montignesia) itself is an auspicious symbol, representing longevity and wisdom. They accompany Daoist Immortals (xian, hsien) bringing from The Isles of Paradise the tablets in their beaks. A pair of cranes symbolizes 'Long Marriage' as cranes mate for life. (Pijl-Ketel 1982, p.279)
Condition:
Teacup: Two tiny glaze fleabite and a hairline to the rim.
Saucer: A firing flaw to the reverse.
Reference:
Price: Sold.
More pictures of object 201099I, another identically shaped, sized and decorated, sold saucer >>
Sold Ceramics - Sold Blue and White wares since 1722 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares - Page 1
Object 2010300
Teapot
China
1730-1740
Height 77 mm (3.03 inch), diameter handle to spout 110 mm (4.33 inch), diameter of mouthrim 36 mm (1.41 inch), diameter of footring 35 mm (1.38 inch)
Teapot on footring, pear-shaped body with ribbing in low relief. Straight spout with curved C-shaped handle. Domed cover with round knob. Decorated in underglaze blue on both sides with flowering branches, on the handle and spout a single flowering stem. On the cover two flower sprays.
Condition: A tiny firing flaw to the underside of the rim of the cover and a firing hairline with a frit to the underside of the handle.
Price: Sold.
Sold Ceramics - Sold Blue and White wares since 1722 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares - Page 1
Object 2010320
Saucer
China
1720-1740
Height 19 mm (0.75 inch), diameter of rim 110 mm (4.33 inch), diameter of footring 67 mm (2.63 inch)
Saucer on footring, slightly everted rim. Decorated in underglaze blue with two figures in a landscape, a mean is sitting on a veranda and a 'Long Eliza' figure is holding a flower while standing near rockwork. The reverse is undecorated.
Condition: Some fleabites and a short hairline to the rim.
Price: Sold.
Sold Ceramics - Sold Blue and White wares since 1722 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares - Page 1
Object 2011903
Burner
China
1750-1770
Height including supports 52 mm (2.05 inch), height excluding supports 42 mm (1.65 inch), diameter of rim 87 mm (3.43 inch), diameter of footring 42 mm (1.65 inch), weight 118 grams (4.16 ounce (oz.))
Burner on footring with straight pierced sides widening to the flat rim. On the flat rim three upright knobs as supports for a teapot / kettle. Inside, on the bottom, a small scale. Decorated in underglaze blue with a flowering plant alternating with a pierced section, on the flat rim three flower sprays. On the base the remains of a clothed wax (shop?) mark.
This burner might have served as a warmer for a tea- or wine-pot or even a dish.
For a Chinese kettle and stand, please see:
For other, examples of such burners, in Japanese porcelain, please see:
Suggested use for this burner, the teapot and cover are not included in this offer.
Condition: Perfect.
References:
Price: Sold.
Sold Ceramics - Sold Blue and White wares since 1722 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares - Page 1
Object 2010963
Coffee cup and saucer
China
1740-1760
Height of cup 60 mm (2.36 inch), diameter of rim 60 mm (2.36 inch), diameter of footring 34 mm (1.34 inch), weight 80 grams (2.82 ounce (oz.))
Height of saucer 24 mm (0.94 inch), diameter of rim 120 mm (4.72 inch), diameter of footring 76 mm (2.99 inch), weight 82 grams (2.89 ounce (oz.))
Coffee cup and saucer on footrings with straight rims, the tall cup with handle. The rims underglaze brown-edged (jia mangkou). Decorated in underglaze blue with an ox standing near a fence under a pine tree with a flowering peony plant growing from pierced rockwork. On the sides six lily sprays, chrysanthemum and peony branches, round both rims a narrow honeycomb pattern border. On the handle a single flower and besides the attachment of the handle to the cup a single chrysanthemum and peony spray. The reverse of the saucer is undecorated. The cup is decorated en suite.
Condition:
Cup: Perfect.
Saucer: Perfect.
Reference:
Price: Sold.
Sold Ceramics - Sold Blue and White wares since 1722 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares - Page 1
Object 2010874
Milk jug
China
c.1750
Height 88 mm (3.46 inch), diameter of belly 69 mm (2.72 inch), diameter of mouthrim 38 mm (1.49 inch), diameter of footring 35 mm (1.37 inch)
Milk jug on footring, pear shaped body with handle, small triangular spout at the rim. The cover is missing. The handle is placed opposite the spout. Decorated in underglaze blue with two ladies standing in a garden landscape observing a man leaping over awall. Round the rim a trellis border with cartouches filled with flower heads.
Romance of the Western Chamber
The love story' Romance of the Western Chamber' (Xixiang ji) ranks among the most famous literary works of China. Its importance for young people can be compared to that of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' in the West. 'Romance of the Western Chamber' was written by Wang Shifu (1260-1336). There already existed a short story in the Tang dynasty titled 'Biography of Yingying' (Yingying Zhuan) by Yuan Zhen (779-831), but Wang Shifu adapted it by adding details and giving it a happy rather than a sad ending. It tells the story of a forbidden love affair between the civil servant Zhang Sheng, who is gifted, but of a poor family background, and the pretty Cui Yingying, daughter of the Prime Minister. The two young people have their first encounter in a Buddhist temple, where Yingying and her mother have taken lodgings when accompanying the coffin of the recently deceased father back home. Suddenly, the temple is besieged by a local gang of outlaws, who demand the daughter to be handed over. Yingying's mother promises her daughter's hand in marriage to whoever saves the daughter from falling into the hands of the gang leader. However, when Zhang succeeds in doing so with the help of General Du, his childhood friend, she does not keep her promise. The young couple start a secret affair, supported by Hongniang ('Lady in Red'), Yingying's maid. When Yingying's mother discovers the affair, she consents to the marriage on the condition that Zhang passes the final examination for the highest position in the civil service of the capital, Zhang does so well, that he is granted a top position. (Suebsman 2019, p.43)
On this milk jug we see the probably best-known scene of the Romance. Zhang climbs over the wall which separates his home from Yingying's abode by way of a willow. In her room in the west wing of the building, the Western Chamber, the two of them finally become intimate. (Suebsman 2019, p.51)
For a similarly in polychrome enamels decorated objects, please see:
- Kostbaar Goed van Grote Pracht. Chinees en Japans exportporselein uit de 17e en 18e eeuw, (Mr. L.C.A.M. Schölvinck, Zwolle 2010), p.36.
- Sold Ceramics - Sold Famille Rose Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares 1725-1800 - Page 1 - Object 2010629.
Condition: A firing flaw to the underside of the spout, a hairline and a glaze chip to the handle and the tip of the spout.
References:
Harrisson 1985, cat. 123 & 124
Price: Sold.
Sold Ceramics - Sold Blue and White wares since 1722 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares - Page 1
Object 2011601
Teacup and saucer
China
1725-1740
Height of teacup 40 mm (1.57 inch), diameter of rim 72 mm (2.83 inch), diameter of footring 35 mm (1.38 inch), weight 50 grams (1.76 ounce (oz.))
Height of saucer 22 mm (0.86 inch), diameter of rim 116 mm (4.57 inch), diameter of footring 57 mm (2.24 inch), weight 82 grams (2.89 ounce (oz.))
Teacup and saucer on footrings, slightly everted underglaze brown-edged rims (jia mangkou). Decorated in underglaze blue with a horse in a central roundel surrounded by seven other horses. On the rims a zig-zag lines pattern border. To the reverse of the saucer three flower sprays. The teacup is decorated en suite.
The horse, Equus caballus, is one of the Seven Treasures of Buddhism, and is one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. It plays an important part in Chinese history and culture, symbolising speed, power, energy and military status. Excellent specimens of horses came to China from Central Asia, where they were indigenous. They were highly appreciated in China and incorporated into Chinese culture. Many legends are connected with famous horses. One is the story of the eight horses of the Emperor Mù Wáng, a favourite subject of Chinese artists. Mù Wáng (r. 976-922 BC) was the fifth emperor of the Western Zhou dynasty (c.1046-256 BC) and is said to have wanted to visit the gardens of the western paradise of Xiwang mu, the Queen Mother of the West, and her famous peach orchards. He set out and travelled through the empire on a chariot driven by his charioteer Tsao Fu. The chariot was being pulled by eight horses each of which bore a distinguishing name and had different 'magic' powers, such as running without touching the ground, riding a cloud or having wings. (Ströber 2011, p.91), (Williams 1976, p.223)
In the Netherlands this particular design of the eight horses of Emperor Mù Wáng was reffered to as the paardenstoeterij, stud farm. (Hartog 1990, cat. 47)
For objects decorated with the eight horses of emperor Mù Wáng, please see:
- Pronken met Oosters porselein, exhibition catalogue Gemeente Museum Arnhem, (S. Hartog, Waanders, Zwolle, 1990), p.65, cat. 47.
- Chinese Ceramics in the Collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. The Ming and Qing Dynasties, (C.J.A. Jörg in collaboration with J. van Campen, Philip Wilson Publishers Limited, London, 1997), p.160, cat. 175.
- Symbols on Chinese porcelain. 10 000 times happiness, (E. Ströber, Arnoldsche Art Publishers, Stuttgart, 2011), pp.91-92, cat. 31.
Condition:
Teacup: A shallow frit to the footring.
Saucer: Two frits and two hairlines to the rim. A frit to the footring.
Reference:
Jörg & Van Campen 1997, cat. 175
Price: Sold.
Sold Ceramics - Sold Blue and White wares since 1722 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares - Page 1
Object 2010314
Saucer
China
1720-1740
Height 20 mm (0.79 inch), diameter of rim 116 mm (4.57 inch), diameter of footring 65 mm (2.56 inch)
Saucer on footring, slightly everted rim. Decorated in underglaze blue with a man walking down a veranda stairs into a garden landscape towards a 'Long Eliza' figure near a banana plant. The reverse is undecorated.
Condition: Perfect.
Price: Sold.
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