Sold Ceramics - Sold Famille Verte wares 1680-1725 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares

Object 2010877A

Chocolate beaker

China

c.1700

Height -

Chocolate beaker on footring, a steep wall with flaring rim and a glazed base. Decorated in various overglaze famille verte enamels with on the outside four panels filled with various flowering plants growing from rockwork. On the rim four half flower heads. Around the inside rim a border of eight flower heads, on the bottom a single flowering stem. Marked on the base with a square shop mark in a double circle, underglaze blue.

Cocoa was first brought to Europe by the Spaniards from Mexico in the 1st half of the 16th century. From Spain the cocoa beans were traded to Italy and The Netherlands, First used as a medicine, later at the end of the 17th century it was consumed as a pleasure drink. (Jörg & Van Campen 1997, p.116) In 1722 Father d'Entrecolles already mentioned, high chocolate cups/beakers, in his letters.

This chocolate beaker was probably originally part of a chocolate set together with a matching saucer and / or cover now missing.

Condition: A short hairline to the rim and two frits to the inner footring..

Reference:

Jörg & Van Campen 1997, cat. 117

Price: Sold.