Sold Ceramics - Sold Famille Rose wares 1725-1800 - Dishes - Page 2

Object 2011250

Dish

China

1740-1760

Height 30 mm (1.18 inch), diameter of rim 226 mm (8.90 inch), diameter of footring 120 mm (4.72 inch)

Dish on footring, flat rim. Decorated in various famille rose enamels, gold and other overglaze enamels, with four carp among water plants. On the sides and rim four flower sprays. The reverse is undecorated. On the base a rectangular paper collectors label that reads: '74'.

Large dishes with a comparable decoration in underglaze blue, as well as in underglaze blue with enamel colours and (as here) only in enamel colours were part of the cargo on board the Dutch East India Company VOC ship "De Geldermalsen" wrecked on its home voyage in 1752. (Jörg 2002/2, p.118)

From 1745 onward, Dutch East India Company VOC records mention "fish bowls". The name "fish bowl" is somewhat misleading, since it reminds one of goldfish. But naturally here a dish is meant, intended especially to serve fish. In papers from 1752/3 we encounter both terms: the same object is sometimes called "fish bowl", at other times a "fish dish". They are always easily recognisable by the decoration: four carp among water plants. Once again, there are three types: blue-and-white, Imari and enamel colours. The blue-and-white kind has been purchased on the merchants own initiative, for it does not occur in the order for 1750. There are four smaller dishes to match each fish dish, of course with the same pattern, to be used for shrimps or butter, according to the order for 1750. (Jörg 1986/1, pp.82-85)

For these comparably decorated dishes, please see:

• The Nanking Cargo Chinese Export Porcelain and Gold European Glass and Stoneware recovered by Captain Michael Hatcher from a European merchant ship wrecked in the South China Sea. sale catalogues Christie’s Amsterdam, 28 April - 2 May 1986, pp.133-134, lots 3189-3200.
• The Geldermalsen. History and Porcelain, (C.J.A. Jörg, Groningen, 1986), pp.82-85, cat. 74.

For a comparably, in Chinese Imari with famille rose enamel, decorated dish, 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, Jan Menze van Diepen Stichting / Jan Menze van Diepen Foundation, Slochteren 2002), p.127, cat. 86.

Condition: A hairline, two chips, one with a connected hairline and some tiny frits, all to the rim. 

References:

Amsterdam 1986, lots 3189-3200

Jörg 1986/1, cat. 74

Jörg 2002/2, cat. 80

Price: Sold.