Sold Ceramics - Sold Chine de commande - Western Subjects 1680-1800 - Various Subjects - Outdoor Scenes - Page 1

Object 2011671

Dish

China

c.1750

Height 25 mm (0.98 inch), diameter of rim 216 mm (8.50 inch), diameter of footring 121 mm (4.76 inch), weight 302 grams (10.65 ounce (oz.))

Dish on footring with a flat octagonal shaped underglaze brown-edged rim (jia mangkou) with indented corners. Decorated in underglaze blue after a Delft tile with an unusual (Dutch) building, a large tree, a seated figure and railings leading down to a river shore with a sampan. The sides are undecorated. On the rim a continuous flower scroll. The reverse is undecorated.

Howard states that the influence of other ceramics on Chinese Export porcelain increased after 1740. Silver and sometimes turned wood, European shapes had been copied from the late 17th Century onwards. In this case it is clear that a Delft tile very similar to the one illustrated was taken to China as a pattern. The Chinese copied the unusual building, the tree behind, the Dutch figure, the railings leading down to the shore - but they added their own river shore on the other bank and a sampan in between to 'balance' the scene. Such new ideas in the trade, where British merchants were concerned, usually developed from the Private Trade. The Dutch, on the other hand, were more adventurous with special designs for large company orders, although these frequently proved expensive". (Howard 1997, p. 59)

tile

(Dutch Delft tile, reproduced from: A Tale of Three Cities Canton, Shanghai & Hong Kong. Three Centuries of Sino-British Trade in the decorative Arts. (D.S. Howard, Sotheby's, London 1997), p.59, cat. 56, not included in this sale/offer)

Of this design using the Dutch tile two versions are known, one has the Dutch figure and the sampan, on the other version this Dutch figure has been replaced by two dogs and the sampan has been erased.

For an identically decorated dish, please see:

A Tale of Three Cities Canton, Shanghai & Hong Kong. Three Centuries of Sino-British Trade in the decorative Arts. (D.S. Howard, Sotheby's, London 1997), p.59, cat. 56.

For an similarly decorated dish with the two dogs and the erased sampan, please see:

Sold Ceramics - Sold Chine de commande - Western Subjects 1680-1800 - Various Subjects - Outdoor Scenes - Object 2010784.

2010784 1

(Sold Ceramics - Sold Chine de commande - Western Subjects 1680-1800 - Various Subjects - Outdoor Scenes - Object 2010784 not included in this sale/offer)

Condition: Two fleabites and a frit to the rim.

References:

Howard 1997, cat. 56

Sargent 2012, p.183

Price: Sold.