Sold Ceramics
Sold Mandarin wares 1750-1790
Page 1
This is the traditional name used in the northern Netherlands for a particular group of export porcelain dating to the second half of the 18th century. It is characterized by the decoration that shows a dense and crowded design of Chinese men ('Mandarins'), women and children in a garden, on a terrace or in an interior, all dressed in colorful garments. Apart from rose, green, brown and black enamel, a purple-violet enamel is often used. Less widespread is a combination with underglaze blue. The decoration can be detailed and precise, but on later pieces is often coarse and stereotypical, and it is frequently combined with a brown-orange enamel. Fanciful rococo-style arabesques and asymmetrical panels can surround the main scene. Larger pieces sometimes have a decoration in relief. Objects of better quality often have small cartouches filled with birds on a branch, flowering plants or landscapes, sometimes done in encre de Chine. Compared to the central scenes, it is clear that different craftsmen painted them. 'Mandarin' designs frequently appear on tea and coffee wares, on dinner sets and on display pieces like vases and garnitures. ‘Mandarin’ was much appreciated in the Dutch province of Groningen. A distinction was made between 'farmer's Mandarin' which is decorated without any gold, and the more precious 'gentleman’s Mandarin' which has an extra layer of gold.
Sold Ceramics - Sold Mandarin wares 1750-1790 - Page 1
Object 2011051
Saucer
China
1740-1745
Height 22 mm (0.87 inch), diameter of rim 121 mm (4.76 inch), diameter of footring 75 mm (2.95 inch)
Saucer on footring, straight rim. Polychrome decorated in iron-red, black, gold and other overglaze enamels, with three figures outside a house on a fenced terrace with trees in the background. The first figure has a bird perched on his arm and is being watched by a second figure, standing at a table, and a third seated figure, smoking a pipe, a small dog rests beside a small table in the foreground. The reverse is undecorated. To the base a rectangular paper collectors label that reads: '24'.
The decoration is characteristic of the group called mandarijn (mandarin) in The Netherlands, a generic term used in the West to refer to all Chinese officials. purple, orange, yellow a hard pink and brown enamels were often added and decorations consisted mainly of Chinese figures and family scenes. In Groningen, herenmandarijn (gentlemen's mandarin), the variation with gold, as here, was regarded as suitable for the upper classes, while boerenmandarijn (farmers' mandarin), without gold was for the middle and lower classes. (Jörg 200/22, p.138)
Condition: Perfect with some wear to the enamels and gold.
Reference:
Price: Sold.
Sold Ceramics - Sold Mandarin wares 1750-1790 - Page 1
Object 2010847
Teapot
China
1740-1760
Height with cover 125 mm (5.00 inch), diameter handle to spout 198 mm (7.28 inch), diameter of mouthrim 65 mm (2.56 inch), diameter of footring 63 mm (2.21 inch)
Teapot on footring, domed cover with a pointed knob. Curved C-shaped handle and a straight spout. Polychrome decorated in iron-red, black, gold and other overglaze enamels, On the body two large panels filled with a child standing on a table being watched by four figures in a garden with a tree and a fence. Around the spout and handle one large and four narrow panels filled with flowering plants. The cover is decorated en suite.
This type of decoration on Chinese porcelain is called 'Mandarin'. A Mandarin is a Chinese official, either civil or military, but the word itself is not Chinese, it comes from the Portuguese word mandar meaning 'to command'. Mandarin porcelain was produced in China for export in the late 18th century. It is called Mandarin because of the groups of figures in Mandarin dress that appear in the decorative panels. (Britannica Online Encyclopaedia)
Condition: A fleabite to the tip of the spout and to the rim of the cover.
References:
Britannica Online Encyclopaedia
Price: Sold.
Sold Ceramics - Sold Mandarin wares 1750-1790 - Page 1
Object 2011344
Dish
China
1740-1745
Height 33 mm (1.29 inch), diameter of rim 161 mm (6.34 inch), diameter of footring 96 mm (3.78 inch), weight 146 grams (5.15 ounce (oz.))
Dish on footring, straight underglaze brown-edged rim (jia mangkou). Polychrome decorated in iron-red, black, gold and other overglaze enamels, with a family of three and a nanny/servant on a fenced terrace with trees, houses and mountains. The seated father is waving his hand while the mother is holding a teacup and looks down on their child who is standing at a table pointing his finger to the ground. The nanny/servant is standing apart from the family near a tree observing he family scene. On the table a vase with blooming flowerings and two rectangular open hard binders each containing a volume of books. The reverse is undecorated.
The decoration on this small dish illustrates the traditional Chinese value of education, starting from the family. Nannies or servants are often respected by the families and treated in a lot of ways as part of the family in a kind of mutual respect.
This type of decoration on Chinese porcelain is called 'Mandarin'. A Mandarin is a Chinese official, either civil or military, but the word itself is not Chinese, it comes from the Portuguese word mandar meaning 'to command'. Mandarin porcelain was produced in China for export in the late 18th century. It is called Mandarin because of the groups of figures in Mandarin dress that appear in the decorative panels. (source: Britannica Online Encyclopaedia)
The decoration is characteristic of the group called mandarijn (mandarin) in The Netherlands, a generic term used in the West to refer to all Chinese officials. Purple, orange, yellow a hard pink and brown enamels were often added and decorations consisted mainly of Chinese figures and family scenes. In Groningen, herenmandarijn (gentlemen's mandarin), the variation with gold, as here, was regarded as suitable for the upper classes, while boerenmandarijn (farmers' mandarin), without gold was for the middle and lower classes. (Jörg 200/22, p.138)
For an identically shaped, sized and decorated dish, please see:
Condition: Two short hairlines to the rim.
References:
Price: Sold.
Sold Ceramics - Sold Mandarin wares 1750-1790 - Page 1
Object 2011540
Teapot
China
1760-1770
Height with cover 160 mm (6.30 inch), diameter handle to spout 235 mm (9.25 inch), diameter of mouthrim 74 mm (2.91 inch), diameter of footring 69 mm (2.72 inch), weight including cover 614 grams (21.66 ounce (oz.)), weight cover 103 grams (3.36 ounce (oz.))
Of inverted pear shape teapot with vertical moulding on footring. Domed pierced cover with a pointed knob. The original handle is missing and replaced with a mahogany C-shaped handle fitted to the body with silver mounts. Barbed bent spout. Decorated in underglaze blue, iron-red, gold and various overglaze enamels with on either side a scroll-outlined panel filled with a lady seated at a table holding a fan in a garden landscape while watching a little boy, flanked by floral spays. On the cover two scroll-outlined panels filled with flowering plants and flanked by floral spays.
This shape of this teapot owes its origin to a more delicate and simple Meissen form. The simple globular teapots which had dominated the market until the 1760s gave way to these clumsier and larger forms for more than a decade, before copying the silver inspired drum shapes that followed in the last two decades of the 18th century and much of the 19th. (Litzenburg 2003, p.153)
Mandarin wares is the traditional name used in the northern Netherlands for a particular group of export porcelain dating to the second half of the 18th century. It is characterized by the decoration that shows a dense and crowded design of Chinese men ('Mandarins'), women and children in a garden, on a terrace or in an interior, all dressed in colorful garments. Apart from rose, green, brown and black enamel, a purple-violet enamel is often used. Less widespread is a combination with underglaze blue. The decoration can be detailed and precise, but on later pieces is often coarse and stereotypical, and it is frequently combined with a brown-orange enamel. Fanciful rococo-style arabesques and asymmetrical panels can surround the main scene. Larger pieces sometimes have a decoration in relief. Objects of better quality often have small cartouches filled with birds on a branch, flowering plants or landscapes, sometimes done in encre de Chine. Compared to the central scenes, it is clear that different craftsmen painted them. 'Mandarin' designs frequently appear on tea and coffee wares, on dinner sets and on display pieces like vases and garnitures. ‘Mandarin’ was much appreciated in the Dutch province of Groningen. A distinction was made between 'farmer's Mandarin' which is decorated without any gold, and the more precious 'gentleman’s Mandarin' which has an extra layer of gold.
Condition: The original handle is missing and replaced with a mahogany C-shaped handle fitted to the body with silver mounts. A chip to the rim of the spout. A short hairline to the rim of the mouth.
Reference:
Price: Sold.
Sold Ceramics - Sold Mandarin wares 1750-1790 - Page 1
Object 2011580
Soup dish
China
1760-1780
Height 36 mm (1.42 inch), diameter of rim 214 mm (8.43 inch), diameter of footring 115 mm (4.53 inch), weight 301 grams (10.62 ounce (oz.))
Octagonal soup dish on footring, flat underglaze brown-edged rim (jia mangkou). Polychrome decorated in iron-red, black, gold and other overglaze enamels, with fourteen figures and two oxen in a river landscape. The reverse is undecorated.
In the foreground a man stepping outside to observe a lady, wearing a light blue over piece (without sleeves) this style is common for a servant/nanny or housekeeper. While holding a shopping basket she is negotiating or bargaining with a fisherman. The man's humble posture tells us his eagerness to make a deal. Behind the fisherman a child and a lady of a family holding a fishing line. In the centre a man (perhaps another buyer looking forward to a good meal) is holding his purse in the air, next to him his son. There is a farmer taking a rest against a tree with two resting oxen. His shank protectors of the lower legs are only for working or travelling people that ties up to the loose trousers protecting the legs from bushes and thorns, like his hat protects him from the sun. A child plays with one of the oxen. On the left a child is hiding behind a seated lady, clearly the lady of the house, indicated by her composed, graceful and elegant posture. Her hair tie is casual and not as elaborately decorated as is a wealthy family. In the background a shore scene with a figure near a pagoda and four fishing boats one with two figures. On the horizon two houses, trees, mountains and a flock of birds. Around the rim a dense floral pattern border with leafy flowering branches, flower heads and cartouches filled with birds in flight, birds perched on a branch or a swimming duck. The reverse is undecorated.
This is quite a an outstanding piece of export porcelain, rich in colour with many (fourteen) characters/figures. It stands out from most of the other ceramics which tend to glorify wealth and luck. This could be the instruction given by the merchant making the order. "I want to reflect the daily country life of the common people you'd find in a village". The skills and illustration are original, natural, free to express and typical of the Qing artists style, not being distorted (or spoiled) by attempting to imitate or follow other styles. It is more close to being a work of art than a commercial kitchen ware. (I am indebted to Mr. S. Fan for this information)
The decoration is characteristic of the group called "mandarijn" (mandrin) in The Netherlands, a generic term used in the West to refer to all Chinese officials. Purple, orange, yellow a hard pink and brown enamels were often added and decorations consisted mainly of Chinese figures and family scenes. In Groningen, "herenmandarijn" (gentlemen's mandrin), the variation with gold, as here, was regarded as suitable for the upper classes, while "boerenmandarijn" (farmers' mandarin), without gold was for the middle and lower classes. (Jörg 200/22, p.138)
A Mandarin is a Chinese official, either civil or military, but the word itself is not Chinese, it comes from the Portuguese word mandar meaning "to command". Mandarin porcelain was produced in China for export in the late 18th century. It is called Mandarin because of the groups of figures in Mandarin dress that appear in the decorative panels. (source: Britannica Online Encyclopaedia)
Condition: Two very tiny fleabites to the rim.
References:
Price: Sold.
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