Chinese Porcelain
Chinese wares over-decorated in the West 1700-1800
Page 1
Chinese wares over-decorated in the West 1700-1800 are, if available, categorized in the following order:
- Dutch over-decorated Amsterdams Bont wares
- English over-decorated Clobbered wares
- German over-decorated Hausmaler wares
Dutch over-decorated Amsterdams Bont wares
Amsterdams Bont is the Dutch name given to a specific group of Chinese or Japanese porcelain that was over-decorated with enamels in the Netherlands. The group consists of bowls, plates, vases, cups and saucers, etc., that were painted in underglaze blue in Jingdezhen or Arita (Japan) and shipped to Holland. Because coloured wares yielded more profits than the ordinary blue-and-white, an additional enamelled decoration was painted on these porcelains. Sometimes this new decoration respects the original Chinese or Japanese decoration and elaborates on it. Other times, however, the Dutch painter was not so respectful and over-painted the blue, creating a chaotic design. Of course, it was easier to paint undecorated pieces that were completely white, for which Japanese wares seem to have been preferred. Over-decorating first appears c.1700 and continued far into the 18th century. It was probably done privately by individuals to generate some extra income. These over-painted pieces were fired in local ceramic factories, which did this in addition to their normal assortment. It is likely that this practice was concentrated in Delft, Makkum and Harlingen where earthenware (faience) was produced, but it could also be done in tile factories such as those in Rotterdam. Notwithstanding the name of this category, there is no indication that it was done on a large scale in Amsterdam. Dated pieces are rare, and because there is almost no documentary information on Amsterdams Bont, it is difficult to say when exactly these pieces were made. Usually, carefully painted objects are regarded as early.
Chinese wares over-decorated in the West 1700-1800 - Dutch over-decorated Amsterdams Bont wares - Page 1
Object 2011247
Bowl
China
1730-1750, over-decorated in the Netherlands, Amsterdams Bont, c.1730-1760
Height 63 mm (2.48 inch), diameter of rim 115 mm (4.53 inch), diameter of footring 47 mm (1.85 inch), weight 210 grams (7.41 ounce (oz.))
Bowl on footring with steeply rounded sides and a straight underglaze brown-edged rim (jia mangkou). Decorated in underglaze blue with flower heads alternating with leaping fish. Over-decorated in iron-red, green, blue, yellow and black overglaze enamel and gold, in the Netherlands, Amsterdams Bont, c.1730-1760 with on the outside a wicker flower basket filled with flowering plants and ribbons hanging from an overhead handle alternating with grasses growing from behind a fence. On the inside the centre shows a wicker flower basket filled with flowering plants and ribbons hanging from an overhead handle in a double concentric band in underglaze blue. On the sides a parrot perched on a budding rose-tree branch with cherries alternating with a butterfly in flight. Round the inner rim a double concentric band in underglaze blue. Marked on the base with a shop / makers mark in a double circle in underglaze blue.
In 1580 a series of sixteen engravings made by Adriaen Collaert (ca.1560-1618) were originally first published in Antwerp under the name 'Avium Iconum' (1580). A second edition by Philips Galle also appeared in Antwerp in c.1617. After that, several other editions were published. One of the engravings shows two parrots, each perched on a tree trunk while one parrot is eating a cherry and a small village in the background. (Lunsingh Scheurleer 1973, p.234)
The print below is from the publication of C.J. Visscher from 1659 or from that of F. de Widt. These last two editions were both published in Amsterdam. (Lunsingh Scheurleer 1973, p.234)
Reproduced from:Opnieuw een decor met twee papegaaien en een versiering van bloemenmanden, (D.F. Lunsingh Scheurleer in: Antiek, VIII-3, Lochem, October 1973), pp.234-241. This print is not included in this sale/offer. (copyright in bibliographic data and images is held by the publisher or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved)
Reproduced from: Opnieuw een decor met twee papegaaien en een versiering van bloemenmanden, (D.F. Lunsingh Scheurleer in: Antiek, VIII-3, Lochem, October 1973), pp.234-241. This birdcage is not included in this sale/offer. (copyright in bibliographic data and images is held by the publisher or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved)
A Dutch Delft birdcage in the collection of the Koninklijke Musea voor geschiedenis en Kunst, Brussel, on the base identically decorated after the engraving by Adriaen Collaert. Ayers, Impey and Mallet state that it was perhaps decorated at the workshop of Gerrit van de Kaade who started in 1705 with over-decorating Chinese and later Meissen porcelain at his workshop in Amsterdam. (Ayers, Impey & Mallet 1990, p.242), (Howard & Ayers 1978, p.531)
For other objects indentically decorated after this engraving, please see:
- China for the West. Chinese Porcelain and other Decorative Arts for Export illustrated from the Mottahedeh Collection, (D.S. Howard & J. Ayers, Philip Wilson Publishers for Sotheby Parke Bernet Publications, London 1978), vol. 2, cat. 542.
- The Choice of the Private Trader. The Private Market in Chinese Export Porcelain illustrated from the Hodroff Collection, (D.S. Howard, London, 1994), p.60, cat. 34.
The decoration on the inside of this bowl was clearly copied from the engraving by Adriaen Collaert (ca.1560-1618) that was first published in Antwerp under the name 'Avium Iconum' (1580). The design is painted in the style of decorations on Japanese Kakiemon porcelain, this is best illustrated in the way the Dutch decorator finely painted the outlined branches and the butterfly in flight. (Lunsingh Scheurleer 1973, p.236)
For identically decorated objects, please see:
- Hollands porselein, (E, Schrijver, Uniboek N.V., Bussum, 1972), cat. 23.
- Opnieuw een decor met twee papegaaien en een versiering van bloemenmanden, (D.F. Lunsingh Scheurleer in: Antiek, VIII-3, Lochem, October 1973), p.239, Afb. 9.
- Important Chinese Export Porcelain from the Mottahedeh Collection,Sotheby's, New York, Wednesday, January 30, 1985, lot 302.
It was natural that with the succes of Chinese ware in Europe and the expansion of painting on porcelain at European factories, some Chinese porcelain should be painted in Europe, for it was cheaper to import it. Various European inspired parrot and cherry designs were later copied again in China. (Howard 1994, p.60)
The flower basket was an immensely popular design in the Netherlands. It was apparently regarded as very Chinese and exotic, while at the same time being recognisable and fitting in with Western imagery. The motif was often used on Delftware and in particular on "Amsterdams Bont", the Dutch name for underglaze blue or plain white Chinese porcelain, overdecorated in Delft and elsewhere in enamels. The flower basket represents Lan Cai He, one of the Eight Immortals, patron Saint of gardeners and florists. (Jörg & Van Campen 1997, p.96), (Sjostrand & Lok Lok 2007, pp. 271-278)
For identically decorated objects in the collection of Augustus the Strong in Dresden and registered under the number P.O. (Porzellan Ostasien) 3137, 3138 and 3140. For these objects, please see;
Condition: A firing flaw and a very tiny fleabite to the rim.
References:
Lunsingh Scheurleer 1966, cat. 340
Lunsingh Scheurleer 1973, pp.234-241, Afb. 1 & 2
Howard & Ayers 1978, Plate 542
Ayers, Impey & Mallet 1990, cat. 265
Jörg & Van Campen 1997, cat. 86
Sjostrand & Lok Lok 2007, pp. 271-278
SKD Online collection, PO. 3137
SKD Online collection, PO. 3138
SKD Online collection, PO. 3140
Price: € 699 Currency Converter
Chinese wares over-decorated in the West 1700-1800 - Dutch over-decorated Amsterdams Bont wares - Page 1
Object 2011054
Bowl
China
1730-1750, over-decorated in the Netherlands, Amsterdams Bont, c.1730-1760
Height 75 mm (2.95 inch), diameter of rim 140 mm (5.51 inch), diameter of footring 53 mm (2.09 inch), weight 266 grams (9.38 ounce (oz.))
Bowl on footring with steeply rounded sides and a straight underglaze brown-edged rim (jia mangkou). Decorated in underglaze blue with various flower sprays. Over-decorated in iron-red, black, gold and overglaze green enamel, in the Netherlands, Amsterdams Bont, c.1730-1760 with four panels, two filled with a fisherman near two sentry houses and the other two with a man walking over a bridge towards two sentry houses. In between the panels floral sprays and leafy scrolls. Around the foot a zig-zag lines pattern border. On the bottom a basket filled with flowering plants, hanging ribbons. Around the inner rim four reserves filled with an insect on a diaper pattern border. Marked on the base with a shop / makers mark in a double circle in underglaze blue.
The flower basket in combination with the fisherman by a sentry house was by far the most popular motif used on Amsterdams Bont pieces decorated in the Netherlands.
For similarly decorated objects, please see:
Condition: A fring flaw to footring, some fleabites and a hairline to the rim.
Price: € 249 Currency Converter
Chinese wares over-decorated in the West 1700-1800 - Dutch over-decorated Amsterdams Bont wares - Page 1
Object 2011109
Teapot
China
1730-1750, over-decorated in the Netherlands, Amsterdams Bont, c.1730-1760
Height with cover 113 mm (4.44 inch), height without cover 97 mm (3.82 inch), diameter handle to spout 174 mm (6.85 inch), diameter of mouthrim 45 mm (1.77 inch), diameter of footring 52 mm (2.05 inch), weight with cover 362 grams (12.77 ounce (oz.)), weight cover 30 grams (1.06 ounce (oz.))
Teapot of globular shape on footring. Large moulded handle with thumb rest and moulded bent spout. The inlaying flat cover with round knob. Decorated in underglaze blue with on both sides a wide flower spray, round the mouthrim a zig-zag-lines pattern border with reserves filled with florets between scrolls. On the handle and spout a single flowering stem. On the cover two flower sprays and on top of the knob a flower head. Over-decorated in iron-red, black and gold and overglaze green enamel, in the Netherlands, Amsterdams Bont c.1730-1760 with four panels, reserved on an iron-red and gold zig-zag-lines pattern ground, filled with a basket containing flowering plants and hanging ribbons alternating with a fisherman by a sentry house. On the cover two panels, one filled with a basket containing flowering plants and hanging ribbons, the other is filled with a fisherman by a sentry house.
The flower basket, in Dutch de bloemenmand was by far the most popular motif used on Amsterdams Bont pieces decorated in the Netherlands. (Jörg & Van Campen 1997, p.328)
Condition: Some unglazed spots to the handle, a few tiny frits to the inner mouthrim, two frits to the top of the spout one with a short-connected hairline. A frit to the rim of the cover.
References:
Lunsingh Scheurleer 1966, cat. 342 & 343
Jörg & Van Campen 1997, cat. 390
Price: € 699 Currency Converter
Chinese wares over-decorated in the West 1700-1800 - Dutch over-decorated Amsterdams Bont wares - Page 1
Object 2011902
Bowl
China
1730-1750, over-decorated in the Netherlands, Amsterdams Bont, c.1730-1760
Height 74 mm (2.91 inch), diameter of rim 145 mm (5.71 inch), diameter of footring 55 mm (2.17 inch), weight 312 grams (11.05 ounce (oz.))
Bowl on footring with steeply rounded sides and a straight underglaze brown-edged rim (jia mangkou). Decorated in underglaze blue. On the outside four groups of flowering plants, on the inside a border with florets between scrolls, on the base a single flower spray in a double concentric band. Over-decorated in iron-red, black, gold and other overglaze enamels, in the Netherlands, Amsterdams Bont, c.1730-1760 with four 'Long Eliza' figures alternating with groups of flowering plants. On the interior wall six flower sprays and on the base leafy flower sprays.
This decoration shows one of the most popular motifs of that time, the slender Chinese woman, in Dutch she was called a Lange Lijs, which became "Long Eliza" in English. (Jörg & Van Campen 1997, p.101)
Condition: A firing flaw to the exterior wall and a tiny fleabite to the rim.
References:
Jörg & Van Campen 1997, cat. 91 & 116
Price: € 599 Currency Converter
Chinese wares over-decorated in the West 1700-1800 - Dutch over-decorated Amsterdams Bont wares - Page 1
Object 2010109
Bowl
China
1730-1750, over-decorated in the Netherlands, Amsterdams Bont, c.1730-1760
Height 65 mm (2.56 inch), diameter of rim 146 mm (5.75 inch), diameter of footring 57 mm (2.24 inch), weight 251 grams (8.53 ounce (oz.))
Bowl on footring with steeply rounded sides and a straight underglaze brown-edged rim (jia mangkou). Carved anhua (secret) floral decoration. Decorated in underglaze blue with zig-zag lines pattern borders round the bottom and rim. On the base a single flower spray in a double concentric band. Over-decorated in iron-red, black, gold and other overglaze enamels, in the Netherlands, Amsterdams Bont, c.1730-1760 with four, black outlined panels, reserved on a trellis pattern ground in iron-red, filled with a 'Long Eliza' figure standing in a garden landscape with houses and trees. On the bottom a 'Long Eliza' figure standing in a garden landscape. The central representation is surrounded by a trellis pattern border and four cartouches filled with a single flowering peony on the inner wall groups of flower sprays alternate with an insect in flight. On the base an old paper collectors label that reads: "744a".
Anhua is a Chinese term meaning 'secret or hidden decoration', it is incised or carved into the body below the glaze. (Espir 2005, p.254)
This decoration shows one of the most popular motifs of that time, the slender Chinese woman, holding a flower. In Dutch she was called a Lange Lijs, which became "Long Eliza" in English. (Jörg & Van Campen 1997, p.101)
Condition: A tiny frit to the rim.
References:
Jörg & Van Campen 1997, cat. 91 & 116
Price: € 599 Currency Converter
Object 2011103
Bowl
China
1730-1750, over-decorated in the Netherlands, Amsterdams Bont, c.1730-1760
Height 68 mm (2.78 inch), diameter of rim 149 mm (5.87 inch), diameter of footring 53 mm (2.09 inch), weight 265 grams (9.35 ounce (oz.)),
Bowl on footring with steeply rounded sides and a straight underglaze brown-edged rim (jia mangkou). Decorated with a wide band of floral anhua decoration between narrow hatched or cash diaper borders in underglaze blue. Over-decorated in the Kakiemon palette in iron-red, gold and overglaze green, blue and black enamel, in the Netherlands, Amsterdams Bont c.1730-1760 with a large panel filled with a bird perched on a branch, bamboo and flowering magnolia and with banded hedges alternating with a smaller panel filled with a fisherman by a sentry house on a leafy scroll ground. On the inside four flower sprays between narrow hatched or cash diaper borders in underglaze blue. On the bottom a flower head anhua decoration with an over-decorated flower head with leaves.
The finest Kakiemon porcelains were enamelled on very white clay in a palette of translucent blue, yellow. blue-green, red and black enamels and gold. The composition, the range of motifs and the delicacy of the painting in a restricted palette all contribute to a distinctive style which is instantly recognisable. Many of the subjects of the design, especially the birds and the flowers, originated in China but had subsequently been absorbed into Japanese art. (Espir 2005, p.78)
While underglaze blue was perfectly suited to Imari over-decoration it added nothing to Kakiemon only constraining it within its borders, but it seems that an attempt was made by the Dutch decorators to widen the market for Kakiemon by modifying the style to fit the more common blue-and-white porcelain. As only a few of the larger items such as teapots, stands, slopbowls and milk jugs remain, and teabowls and saucers are very rare, one can only conclude that the attempt was unsuccessful. (Espir 2005, p.91)
The hedge of rice straw, known as a 'banded hedge' because of the ties binding it together, is one of the trademarks of Kakiemon design as are flying and perching birds, tigers and the bamboo leaves on the ground. (Espir 2005, p.82)
Condition: Some fleabites and two frits to the rim and some wear to the decoration.
References:
Price: € 599 Currency Converter
Chinese wares over-decorated in the West 1700-1800 - Dutch over-decorated Amsterdams Bont wares - Page 1
Object 2012625
Bowl
China
1700-1730, over-decorated in the Netherlands, Amsterdams Bont, c.1730-1760
Height 72 mm (2.83 inch), diameter of rim 147 mm (5.79 inch), diameter of footring 60 mm (2.36 inch), weight 275 grams (9.70 ounce (oz.))
Bowl on footring with steeply rounded sides and a straight underglaze brown-edged rim (jia mangkou). Carved anhua (secret) floral decoration. Decorated in underglaze blue with four roundels filled with flowering plants and a zig-zag lines pattern border round the rim. On the bottom a double concentric band. Over-decorated in iron-red, black, gold and other overglaze enamels, in the Netherlands, Amsterdams Bont, c.1730-1740 with a reserve, filled with a lady and a servant walking in a garden landscape. The lady is holding a lantern while her servant is holding up an umbrella alternating with a reserve filled with flowering plants. In between the reserves a single flowerhead with foliage in iron-red. On the bottom a basket containing flowering plants and hanging ribbons surrounded by insects in flight. On the inner wall four flower sprays. Round the inner rim an ornamental border.
As Dutch and English decorators copied so few famille verte pieces it is tempting to allocate all the European decorated pieces which have a predominantly green palette to the famille verte style even though they may hardly resemble the Chinese originals., The Chinese blue and white bowl and tankard in fig. 34. both decorated with figures in a landscape, are chinoiseries in the famille verte palette, and as this type of decoration is seen on some Chinese porcelain made in the 1750s and 60s, it is evident that this style of over-decoration remained popular. The distinctive way the creases in the men's clothes on the bowl are painted is also seen on Delftware of the mid 18th century suggesting that the bowl was painted in Holland. On the tankard the painting is not as good and is perhaps English which tends to be looser in style as on the blue and white bowl in fig.35, which represents a distinctive group of mainly tea wares sketchily painted probably in the 1720s and 30s in a palette of bright greens, yellow and strong red with Chinese ladies often holding lanterns. (Espir 2005, p.102)
For a similarly, shaped, sized and over-decorated in the Netherlands, Amsterdams Bont, bowl, please see:
For a similarly decorated bowl and under dish in the collection of oriental ceramics in the Groninger Museum, please see:
- The collection of the oriental ceramics in the Groninger Museum, Objectnumber 2020.0196.
- The collection of the oriental ceramics in the Groninger Museum, Objectnumber 2020.0198.
Condition: Some loss of enamel and tiny frit to the rim.
Reference:
Price: € 499 Currency Converter
Chinese wares over-decorated in the West 1700-1800 - Dutch over-decorated Amsterdams Bont wares - Page 1
Object 2011150
Bowl
China
1730-1750, over-decorated in the Netherlands, Amsterdams Bont, c.1730-1760
Height 59 mm (2.32 inch), diameter of rim 112 mm (4.41 inch), diameter of footring 41 mm (1.61 inch), weight 170 grams (6.00 ounce (oz.))
Bowl on footring, steeply rounded sides and a straight rim. Decorated in underglaze blue with four groups of flowering plants, round the rim a trellis-pattern border with four reserves filled with flower sprays. On the bottom a flower spray in a concentric band and round the inner rim a single concentric band. Over-decorated in iron-red, green and black enamel and gold in the Netherlands, Amsterdams Bont, c.1730-1760 with four panels filled with a flowering plant, in between the panels leafy branches round the foot a descending lotus leaves-pattern border. On the bottom a single flower spray and on the inner wall six single flower sprays.
Condition: A firing tension hairline to the footring , a popped bubble of glaze (caused by the firing process) and two fleabites to the rim.
Price: € 299 Currency Converter
Chinese wares over-decorated in the West 1700-1800 - Dutch over-decorated Amsterdams Bont wares - Page 1
Object 2010108
Bowl
China
1730-1750, over-decorated in the Netherlands, Amsterdams Bont, c.1730-1760
Height 65 mm (2.56 inch), diameter of rim 127 mm (5.00 inch), diameter of footring 62 mm (2.44 inch), weight 217 grams (7.65 ounce (oz.))
Bowl on footring with steeply rounded sides and a straight underglaze brown-edged rim (jia mangkou). Decorated in underglaze blue with various antiquities, on the bottom a single artemisia leaf with a tied ribbon in a double concentric band. Over-decorated in iron-red, black, gold and overglaze green enamel, in the Netherlands, Amsterdams Bont, c.1730-1760 with four panels, two filled with a basket filled with flowering plants and hanging ribbons the other two with a fisherman by a sentry house. Around the foot a spiral pattern border. On the bottom a basket filled with flowering plants, hanging ribbons and two flying insects. Around the inner rim an ornamental border. Marked on the base with the symbol mark: "Pair of fish" (shuang yu), one of the eight Buddhist Emblems and symbol of marital bliss, in a double circle in underglaze blue. (Davison 1994, cat. 1825)
On this particular bowl the decoration it is well painted with a wealth of flowers, while on other pieces it is often more stylised.
The flower basket, in Dutch de bloemenmand was by far the most popular motif used on Amsterdams Bont pieces decorated in the Netherlands. (Jörg & Van Campen 1997, p.328)
For an identically decorated bowl, please see:
- Porzellan aus China und Japan. Die Porzellangalerie der Landgrafen von Hessen-Kassel, (Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Kassel, Berlin 1990), p.393, cat. 182.
- The Helen Espir Collection of European Decorated Oriental Porcelain, auction catalogue Woolley & Wallis Salisbury, 12 November 2014, p.9, cat. 309
Condition: Perfect.
References:
Lunsingh Scheurleer 1966, cat. 342 & 343
Jörg & Van Campen 1997, cat. 390
Price: € 299 Currency Converter
English over-decorated Clobbered wares
In the eyes of some scholars and collectors of both Chinese and European porcelains, Chinese export porcelains decorated in Europe are a chinoiserie hybrid. Thanks to this prejudice, such wares have been long overlooked and frequently denigrated with the term clobbered. In the late 19th century European decorated oriental porcelain was called 'clobbered', a word that came into the English language in the mid-19th century meaning as a noun, 'a black paste used by clobbers to fill up and conceal cracks in leather', and as a verb, 'to patch up, to cobble'. Later it was applied to old clothes meaning 'to renovate' and by the 19th century it was it was applied to porcelain. In 1900, F.Litchfield stated, 'There is a description of Chinese known as clobbered .... overpainted with ....ornament ..... sold for decorated oriental China.' It was a derogatory term meaning that the European decorator had plastered his style of decoration all over the pot with total disregard for the original which was the case in much Chinese blue-and-white over-decorated in the early 19th century and which are to blame for the poor reputation of these wares ever since. (Espir 2005, p.75), (Sargent 2012, p.499)
Chinese wares over-decorated in the West 1700-1800 - English over-decorated Clobbered wares - Page 1
Object 2011396
Bowl
China
1720-1740, over-decorated in England 1730-1760
Height 61 mm (2.40 inch), diameter of rim 105 mm (4.13 inch), diameter of footring 38 mm (1.50 inch), weight 143 grams (5.04 ounce (oz.))
Bowl on footring with steeply rounded sides and a straight underglaze brown-edged rim (jia mangkou). Decorated in underglaze blue with flowering chrysanthemum plants alternating with flowering peony plants, on the bottom a single flowering spray. Over-decorated in with blue enamel, iron-red and gold in England, clobbered, c.1730-1760 with flower heads and leafy sprays and stylised reserves filled half flower heads and leafy sprays. Round the footing a marubatsu-pattern (modern Japanese for 'naughts and crosses' or 'Os and Xs'). Inside around the rim pointed upturned lotus leaves in gold on a blue enamel ground with stylised reserves filled half flower heads and leafy sprays. On the bottom a river scene with pagodas, trees, flags and mountains.
For similarly, English over-decorated objects please see:
- European Decoration on Oriental Porcelain 1700-1830, (H. Espir, Jorge Welsh Books, London, UK, 2005), p.217, cat. 16.
- The Helen Espir Collection of European Decorated Oriental Porcelain, auction catalogue Woolley & Wallis Salisbury, 12 November 2014, pp.63-64, cat. 405 & 406.
Condition: Two tiny fleabites and a hairline to the rim.
References:
Salisbury 2014, cat. 405 & 406
Price: € 299 Currency Converter
German over-decorated Hausmaler wares
As in the Netherlands, Chinese porcelain was also decorated in England and Germany. In Germany this was done by Hausmaler, people who worked at home painting enamel decorations on the white porcelain which they obtained from one of the German porcelain factories or from private clients. However Chinese porcelains could be decorated as well and sold at a cheaper price than the German pieces. Fake Meissen marks could indicate that they were marketed as 'real' German porcelain.
Black or schwarzlot, decoration, was just being developed in Europe, the German Hausmaler was putting it primarily on Chinese blanc de Chine objects, rather than on wares from the newly established Meissen factory.
Currently there are no German over-decorated Hausmaler wares for sale.
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