Sold Ceramics - Sold Shipwreck Porcelains - The Hatcher Junk (1643-1646) - Page 1

Object 2012571

Winecup

China

c.1643

Provenances: The Hatcher Collection, Christie’s Amsterdam, 12 and 13 June 1984, Aronson Antiquairs Amsterdam May 3, 1986 see the original description of the wine cup on Aronson Antiquairs stationery include in this sale.

Height 44 mm (1.73 inch), diameter of rim 50 mm (1.97 inch), diameter of footring 19 mm (0.75 inch), weight 25 grams (0.88 ounce (oz.))

Winecup on footring of conical shape with a slightly flaring rim. Decorated in underglaze blue with a dragon leaping through cloud scrolls to gasp the flaming pearl, between a double line border around the foot and a single line around the rim. On the base the original orange/red Christie's Amsterdam circular paper auction label which reads: Hatcher Collection Christie's June '84 with the added handwritten in black ink words 'MING' and ' 1620' (Corresponding with the text on the handwritten description of the wine cup on the Aronson Antiquairs Amsterdam document.).

There were 7,800 winecups in a very wide range of shapes and decorations on the Hatcher junk, but no kraak ones. The fashion for drinking tea and coffee had recently spread from the Middle East to Europe, and cups in new styles were in great demand. However, we cannot assume from their absence on the Hatcher junk that they were no longer made, and it may equally well be that the demand for them continued to match the kraak dishes, bowls and flasks on European dinner tables. (Sheaf & Kilburn 1988, p.39)

About twenty similarly shaped winecups were salvaged from the wreck of the East Indiaman Witte Leeuw which sank in 1613. The discovery of such fine wares having been made for export before 1612 was rather surprising. It has always been believed that such porcelain belonged either to Imperial ware, of which only pieces trickled to Europe during that time, or that they dated from a later period. Proof that this type of ware had come to Europe at the beginning of the 17th century comes from Ms Gordon Lee of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In the J.G. Johnson collection there is a still life painting by Christoffel van den Berghe (working in Middelburg from 1617-1642), dated 1617 on which two winecups are painted which are exactly the same as those from the Witte Leeuw. A second historical source was found in the inventory of the Art Cabinet of Gustavus Adolf of Sweden which was put together before 1634. In it, there are three winecups of the same type as those from the Witte Leeuw. Furthermore, at excavations at the James River Basin in Virginia, Dr. Julia B. Curtis saw that several sherds excavated from various tenant settlements near Jamestown are of the same type as the winecups from the Witte Leeuw. The settlements date from 1618-1650. The East Indiaman the Banda, sunk at Mauritius in 1615 (two years after the Witte Leeuw) had on board a private cargo of Chinese porcelain. Among the wares a large quantity of these winecups was found. (Pijl-Ketel 1982)

Christoffel van den Berghe, Dutch (active Middelburg), active c.1617 - after 1628 Philadelphia Museum of Art, (source: www.philamuseum.org) The painting is not included in this 2011773 offer.

The shape is typical Chinese and resembles the well-known winecup or in Japan, sake up. On VOC lists with porcelain, the name 'pimpelkens' occurs frequently. A 'pimpelken' could be a small cup or glass from which brandewijn (a kind of brandy) was drunk. On ships, they were also used as a measure for rations (for instance fruit juice against scurvy). The name 'pimpelkens' therefore probably refers to such types of winecups. (Pijl-Ketel 1982)

In total 2,184 of these 43 mm (2.87 inch) winecups decorated with a dragon leaping through cloud scrolls to gasp the flaming pearl were sold by Christie's Amsterdam on 12 and 13 June 1984 divided over the lots: 71-96, 379-420B and 500-509. (Amsterdam 1984/2)

For identically shaped, sized and decorated winecups, please see:

For similarly shaped winecups, please see:

The ceramic load of the 'Witte Leeuw' (1613), (C.L. van der Pijl-Ketel, catalogue Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1982), p.144, inv.no: NG 1977-34W & NG 1977-128W.

1986-05-03 Aronson Antiquairs

The original description of the wine cup, dated May 3, 1986 on Aronson Antiquairs stationery.

Condition: Perfect.

References:

Pijl-Ketel 1982, pp. 143-144 & inv.no: NG 1977-34W & NG 1977-128W

Sheaf & Kilburn 1988, pp. 32-37

Amsterdam 1984/2, lot 71-96. lot 379-420B & lot 500-509

www.philamuseum.org

Price: Sold.