Sold Ceramics - Sold Batavia Brown (Capucin wares) 1700-1800 - Wheel engraved - Page 1

Object 2012502

Bowl

China

1740-1760

Height 77 mm (3.03 inch), diameter of rim 154 mm (6.06 inch), diameter of footring 66 mm (2.60 inch), weight 318 grams (11.22 ounce (oz.))

Bowl on footring with steeply rounded sides flaring towards a slightly everted rim. The outside is covered with so-called Batavia-Brown, underglaze dark brown. Decorated in underglaze blue on the bottom with peony and chrysanthemum plants growing from rockwork in a double concentric band. On the sides wide spread peony and chrysanthemum flower sprays flanked by a single flowering stem. Around the rim reserves filled with half flower heads. On the outside wheel engraved decoration with a peacock, a bird and a lantern amongst two wide spread floral sprays.

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)

Wheel engraving cuts through the glaze, using copper wheels of varying sizes and abrasives, and reveals the porcelain´s white body. This European technique was first developed for glass around 1590 to 1605, and then applied to ceramics. Commentators have speculated that this demonstrably European carved decoration may have been performed by either Bohemian, Saxon or Silesian craftsmen. The former collection of King Augustus the Strong in Dresden contains several wheel engraved sets. An inventory drawn up in the period 1721-1727 notes that the Saxon Minister Count Vitzthum had several items brought from Holland in December 1723 at the King's command, suggesting that the engraving was carried out there. Given the predominance of Bohemian glass traders and artist in Amsterdam and many other European cities at the time, this was probably their work. (Sargent 2012, p.504), (Emden 2015/1, p.124)

For other, earlier sold, wheel engraved objects, please see:

Condition: Two firing flaws to the footring and some glaze rough spots, fleabites and a frit to the rim.

References:

Jörg 2002/2, p.120

Sargent 2012, p.504

Emden 2015/1, p.124

Price: Sold.