Sold Ceramics - Sold Chine de commande - Western Subjects 1680-1800 - Western Designers -

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Pronk, Cornelis (1691-1759)

Object 2011964

Small saucer

China

1740-1745

Height 22 mm (0.87 inch), diameter of rim 113 mm (4.45 inch), diameter of footring 58 mm (2.28 inch), weight 79 grams (2.79 ounce (oz.))

Small deep saucer on footring, flat rim. Decorated in underglaze blue with two women by a reed border at a riverbank, one holding a parasol, the other watching three wadingbirds. On the sides a narrow band with flower sprays alternating with flower heads. Round the rim a honeycomb pattern, separated by eight panels with a paddling bird alternating with a lady holding a parasol. On the reverse seven insects.

As mentioned Pronk's design of the 'Parasol Lady' was also used on Japanese porcelain. It was not ordered by the Dutch East India Company, (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie, VOC) but commissioned by private Dutch traders. On Japanese pieces, the Chinese ladies have become Japanese with their characteristic hairstyles and kimonos. Pronk designs were still in great demand, particularly the Parasol Lady, when VOC orders for this type of porcelain declined. Simplified versions were made at the artists' initiative, where both early Chinese and Japanese versions were used as models. This is one such late Chinese variant in Japanese style. Only deep, blue saucers of this Chinese variation on a Japanese style are known in four increasing sizes, for a saucer with a diameter of 156 mm (6.14 inch) please see;

Jan Menze van Diepen Stichting. Selectie uit de collectie Oosterse keramiek. (Jan Menze van Diepen Foundation. A Selection from the Collection of Oriental Ceramics), (C.J.A. Jörg, Slochteren, 2002), pp.144-145, cat. 99. Jörg 2002/2, pp.144-145, cat. 99

for a saucer with a diameter of 132 mm (5.31 inch) please see;

Sold Ceramics - Sold Chine de commande - Western Subjects 1680-1800 - Western Designers - Pronk, Cornelis (1691-1759) - Object 2010190.

The body, the glaze and the cobalt blue are unmistakably Chinese. (Jörg corrects an earlier erroneous Japanese attribution based on the Japanese decorative style in his catalogue of 1980. (Jörg 2002/2, pp.144-145, cat. 99)