Sold Ceramics - Sold Chine de commande - Western Subjects 1680-1800 - Various Subjects - Outdoor Scenes - Page 1

Object 2011775A

Dish

China

c.1750

Height 25 mm (0.98 inch), diameter of rim 220 mm (8.66 inch), diameter of footring 118 mm (4.65 inch), weight 338 grams (11.92 ounce (oz.))

Dish on footring, flat octagonal underglaze brown-edged rim (jia mangkou). Decorated in underglaze blue after a Delft tile with an unusual (Dutch) building, a large tree and two dogs on a river shore. The sides are undecorated. On the rim a continuous flower scroll. The reverse is undecorated.

Howard states that the influence of other ceramics on Chinese Export porcelain increased after 1740. Silver and sometimes turned wood, European shapes had been copied from the late 17th Century onwards. In this case it is clear that a Delft tile very similar to the one illustrated was taken to China as a pattern. The Chinese copied the unusual building, the tree behind, (on this version the Dutch figure has been replaced by two dogs) and the railings leading down to the shore - but they added their own river shore on the other bank and left out the sampan in between to 'balance' the scene. Such new ideas in the trade, where British merchants were concerned, usually developed from the Private Trade. The Dutch, on the other hand, were more adventurous with special designs for large company orders, although these frequently proved expensive". (Howard 1997, p. 59)

tile

(Dutch Delft tile, reproduced from: A Tale of Three Cities Canton, Shanghai & Hong Kong. Three Centuries of Sino-British Trade in the decorative Arts. (D.S. Howard, Sotheby's, London 1997), p.59, cat. 56, not included in this sale/offer)

For an identically decorated dish, please see:

Collecting Chinese Export Porcelain, (E. Gordon, Universe Books, New York, 1977), p. 57, cat 44.

For an identically decorated soup dish, please see:

Sold Ceramics - Sold Chine de commande - Western Subjects 1680-1800 - Various Subjects - Outdoor Scenes - Page 1 - Object 201078.

Of this design using the Dutch tile two versions are known, one has the Dutch figure and the sampan, on the other version this Dutch figure has been replaced by two dogs and the sampan has been erased

For an similarly decorated dish with the Dutch figure and the sampan, please see:

Chine de commande - Western Subjects 1680-1800 - Various Subjects - Outdoor Scenes - Page 1 - Object 2011671.

2011671 1

(object 2011671 not included in this sale/offer)

Condition: Some firing flaws and three tiny fleabites to the rim.

References:

Gordon 1977, cat. 44

Howard 1997, cat. 56

Sargent 2012, p.183

Price: Sold.