Sold Ceramics - Sold Shipwreck Porcelains - The Nanking Cargo, 1752 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares - Page 1

Object 2010967

Chocolate cup

China

c.1751

Provenance: The Nanking Cargo sale, Christie's Amsterdam, 28 April - 2 May 1986

Heights 68 mm (2.68 inch), diameter of rims 68 mm (2.68 inch), diameter of footrings 39 mm (1.54 inch)

Chocolate cup on footring, straight sides, slightly everted rim and scalloped handle. Polychrome decorated in various overglaze enamels and gold with chrysanthemum, bamboo and daisy issuing around a jagged outcrop of taihu (garden) rockwork with an elaborate scalloped loop handle of European inspiration. On the base the original circular paper Christie's The Nanking Cargo sale lot 5159 label proving it has been one of 130 similar chocolate cups sold in lot 5159. On the inside the original rectangular paper Christie's lot 5076/200 label. (Amsterdam 1986, p.236)

In the auction catalogue 'The Nanking Cargo, Chinese Export porcelain and Gold', Christie's Amsterdam describes these chocolate cups as teacups.

Jörg states that in orders, shipping invoices and unpacking books from this period two types of chocolate cups and saucers are mentioned: with and without handles. The order for 1761 gives an exact description of such a cup: 70 mm (2.76 inch) high, with straight sides slightly sloping outwards and a diameter equal to its height. We even have a drawing of such a chocolate cup, part of the order made up in 1759. It looks exactly like the cups with scalloped handles found in the wreck. There is no question but that these are indeed chocolate cups. The same decoration of large flowers and bamboo near a rock is executed both in underglaze blue and Imari, as well in enamel colours. In all, 9,735 cups and saucers for chocolate had been bought in Canton. They also included enamelled high cups with round handles, which are indicated as a type in the drawing of 1758 too. Hatcher has recovered 2,263 pairs of chocolate cups and saucers with scalloped handles and 1.996 pairs with round handless. Apparently there were no chocolate cups without handle bought in 1751. (Jörg 1986/1, pp. 68-69)

Cups of this shape, which always have a handle, are usually called coffee cups, but in fact are chocolate cups. This is made clear from the numerous references and descriptions of "chocolate cups with handles" in the records of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Orders state that "the cups must be straight without overhanging rims", the cup narrower inside. An average height of 70 mm is given and is stressed that the diameter of the rim should be equal to the height. Drawn models of 1758 which have fortunately been preserved, show four cups of this shape with different handles, which are specified as "chocolate cups" in the description. Large tea, coffee and chocolate services always included this type of cup, but they could be bought separately as well. Enamelled cups and saucers were bought by the Company for around 20 cents and sold in the Netherlands for around 50 cents apiece. (Jörg & Van Campen 1997, p.215)

The design on this chocolate cup is known as the the 'Chrysanthemum Rock' pattern in enamels. In total 33 teacups and saucers and 690 teacups without saucers with the "Chrysanthemum Rock" pattern in enamels, were sold divided over the lots: 5152-5159 (Amsterdam 1986)

Condition: A firing tension hairline to the scalloped handle and a fleabite and frit to the rim.

References:

Jörg 1982/1, fig. 46

Amsterdam 1986, lot 5152-5159

Jörg 1986/1, fig. 55 & 56

Sheaf & Kilburn 1988, Pl.147

Howard 1997, cat. 19

Jörg & Van Campen 1997, cat. 240

Price: Sold.