Recent Acquisitions
On this page you'll find my latest acquisitions, It may, however, take some time for all objects to load.
This way you can quickly browse through my recently acquired objects without having to browse through all the various categories.
After some time, each object in 'Recent Acquisitions' will be moved to their specific category.
Latest updates:
Recent Acquisitions; September 20, 2023.
Kraak Porcelain wares 1570-1645 - Dishes
Object 2012561
Dish
China
1590-1610
Height 29 mm (1.14 inch), diameter of rim 211 mm (8.31 inch), diameter of footring 108 mm (4.25 inch), weight 330 grams (11.64 ounce (oz.))
Dish on footring, flat rim. Decorated in underglaze blue with a bird perched on a rock with a flowering peony tree and an insect in flight in a central medallion enclosed by a ruyi-heads pattern border. The sides are undecorated. On the rim stylized cranes flying amongst swirling clouds alternating with fruiting peach sprays. On the exterior rim four elongated grasses. On the base two concentric lines in underglaze blue. Coarse sand from the kiln adheres to the base and some areas of the footring.
This type of this dish is recorded in Maura Rinaldi's book 'Kraak Porcelain. A moment in the history of trade' as a shallow dish with a flat rim. The decoration on the border appears to be rare among the kraak porcelain assortment and is not published by Rinaldi. The dish can be dated to around 1590-1610.
For a closely related border to that enclosing the central medallion of the dish, formed by a narrow band of alternating blue and white squares and a band of ruyi-heads, please see:
Condition: A firing flaw to the footring, some glaze rough spots, a shallow glaze chip and a chip with a short, connected hairline all to the rim.
Reference:
Price: € 999 Currency Converter
Shipwreck Porcelains - The Hatcher Junk (1643-1646)
Object 2012571
Winecup
China
c.1643
Provenances: The Hatcher Collection, Christie’s Amsterdam, 12 and 13 June 1984, Aronson Antiquairs Amsterdam May 3, 1986 see the original description of the wine cup on Aronson Antiquairs Amsterdam stationery include in this sale.
Height 44 mm (1.73 inch), diameter of rim 50 mm (1.97 inch), diameter of footring 19 mm (0.75 inch), weight 25 grams (0.88 ounce (oz.))
Winecup on footring of conical shape with a slightly flaring rim. Decorated in underglaze blue with a dragon leaping through cloud scrolls to gasp the flaming pearl, between a double line border around the foot and a single line around the rim. On the base the original orange/red Christie's Amsterdam circular paper auction label which reads: Hatcher Collection Christie's June '84 with the added handwritten in black ink words 'MING' and ' 1620' (corresponding with the text on the handwritten description of the wine cup on the Aronson Antiquairs Amsterdam document.).
There were 7,800 winecups in a very wide range of shapes and decorations on the Hatcher junk, but no kraak ones. The fashion for drinking tea and coffee had recently spread from the Middle East to Europe, and cups in new styles were in great demand. However, we cannot assume from their absence on the Hatcher junk that they were no longer made, and it may equally well be that the demand for them continued to match the kraak dishes, bowls and flasks on European dinner tables. (Sheaf & Kilburn 1988, p.39)
About twenty similarly shaped winecups were salvaged from the wreck of the East Indiaman Witte Leeuw which sank in 1613. The discovery of such fine wares having been made for export before 1612 was rather surprising. It has always been believed that such porcelain belonged either to Imperial ware, of which only pieces trickled to Europe during that time, or that they dated from a later period. Proof that this type of ware had come to Europe at the beginning of the 17th century comes from Ms Gordon Lee of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In the J.G. Johnson collection there is a still life painting by Christoffel van den Berghe (working in Middelburg from 1617-1642), dated 1617 on which two winecups are painted which are exactly the same as those from the Witte Leeuw. A second historical source was found in the inventory of the Art Cabinet of Gustavus Adolf of Sweden which was put together before 1634. In it, there are three winecups of the same type as those from the Witte Leeuw. Furthermore, at excavations at the James River Basin in Virginia, Dr. Julia B. Curtis saw that several sherds excavated from various tenant settlements near Jamestown are of the same type as the winecups from the Witte Leeuw. The settlements date from 1618-1650. The East Indiaman the Banda, sunk at Mauritius in 1615 (two years after the Witte Leeuw) had on board a private cargo of Chinese porcelain. Among the wares a large quantity of these winecups was found. (Pijl-Ketel 1982)
Christoffel van den Berghe, Dutch (active Middelburg), active c.1617 - after 1628 Philadelphia Museum of Art, (source: www.philamuseum.org) The painting is not included in this 2011773 offer.
The shape is typical Chinese and resembles the well-known winecup or in Japan, sake up. On VOC lists with porcelain, the name 'pimpelkens' occurs frequently. A 'pimpelken' could be a small cup or glass from which brandewijn (a kind of brandy) was drunk. On ships, they were also used as a measure for rations (for instance fruit juice against scurvy). The name 'pimpelkens' therefore probably refers to such types of winecups. (Pijl-Ketel 1982)
In total 2,184 of these 43 mm (2.87 inch) winecups decorated with a dragon leaping through cloud scrolls to gasp the flaming pearl were sold by Christie's Amsterdam on 12 and 13 June 1984 divided over the lots: 71-96, 379-420B and 500-509. (Amsterdam 1984/2)
For identically shaped, sized and decorated winecups, please see:
- Fine and Important Late Ming and Transitional Porcelain, The second and finial part of the Hatcher Collection, recently recovered from an Asian vessel in the South China Sea, auction catalogue Christie’s Amsterdam, 12 & 13 June 1984, pp.11-13, lot 71-96. pp.36-38. lot 379-420B & p.44, lot 500-509.
- The Hatcher Porcelain Cargoes. The Complete Record, (C. Sheaf & R. Kilburn, Oxford 1988), p.64, Pl.87.
For similarly shaped winecups, please see:
The original description of the wine cup, dated May 3, 1986 on Aronson Antiquairs stationery.
Condition: Perfect.
References:
Pijl-Ketel 1982, pp. 143-144 & inv.no: NG 1977-34W & NG 1977-128W
Sheaf & Kilburn 1988, pp. 32-37
Amsterdam 1984/2, lot 71-96. lot 379-420B & lot 500-509
Price: € 699 Currency Converter
Chinese Imari 1700-1800 - Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares
Object 2012530
Teapot
China
1700-1720
Height with cover 100 mm (3.94 inch), height without cover 75 mm (2.95 inch), diameter handle to spout 125 mm (4.92 inch), dimension of mouthrim 44 mm (1.73 inch), diameter of footring 48 mm (1.89 inch), weight with cover 229 grams (8.08 ounce (oz.)), weight cover 31 grams (1.09 ounce (oz.))
Pear-shaped, ribbed teapot with fluted body on footring. Straight spout, curved C-shaped handle. Domed ribbed cover with a round knob. Chinese Imari, decorated in underglaze blue, overglaze iron-red and gold with various butterflies and insects in flight. On the spout and handle flower sprays. Around the rim a narrow border of lotus leaves in underglaze blue with iron-red and gold accents. On and around the rim of the cover a narrow border of lotus leaves in underglaze blue with iron-red and gold accents.
Condition: A shallow rough tip of the spout and two chips to the inner footring.
Price: € 499 Currency Converter
Japanese Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares 18th Century
Object 2012528
Teapot
Japan
1690-1720
Height with cover 85 mm (3.35 inch), height without cover 63 mm (2.48 inch), diameter handle to spout 125 mm (4.92 inch), dimensions of square mouthrim 38 mm (1.49 inch) x 38 mm (1.49 inch), diameter of footring: 40 mm (1.58 inch), weight with cover 183 grams (6.46 ounce (oz.)), weight cover 26 grams (0.92 ounce (oz.))
Square teapot with rounded sides on a low, square firing-ring. The lower body bulges before reverting to a square shape. A square shaped domed cover with a square knob finial. Curved handle and spout. Imari decorated in iron-red and gold. The sides decorated with two designs of flowering peony alternating with chrysanthemum plants Corners of body picked out with narrow red and gold lines. On the handle and spout a floret between scrolls. The red and gold lines continue from corners, dividing the cover onto four panels containing flowers similar to those on the body.
In category 36 'Coloured Imari with no underglaze blue, iron-red and gold only' of his Japanese export porcelain, Impey states that the implication of this singular restriction of palette, without the use of underglaze blue, is that these may be the product of a single enamelling workshop, but may or may not be the product of a single kiln. The restriction is probably one of choice, for it would hardly be cheaper, if at all, to use a wider range of enamels, and no cheaper to use underglaze blue. (Impey 2002, pp.220-221)
For an identically shaped teapot, please see;
-
Japanese Tea, Coffee and Chocolate wares 18th Century - Page 1 - Object 2010380.
- Japanese Export Porcelain. Catalogue of the Collection of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, (O. Impey, Hotei Publishing, Amsterdam, 2002), p.207, cat. 344 and p. 208, cat. 347.
- Christie's Collections. Teapots, (P. Tippett, Marshall Editions, London, 1996), p. 20.
Condition: Perfect.
References:
Price: € 699 Currency Converter
Japanese Imari 1690-1800
Object 2012549A
Bowl
Japan
1700-1720
Height of bowl 116 mm (1.65 inch), diameter of rim 220 mm (2.56 inch), diameter of footring 85 mm (1.29 inch), weight 963 gram (33.97 ounce (oz.))
Lobbed bowl on footring, scalloped rim. Imari, decorated in underglaze blue, iron red, green, turquoise, aubergine, yellow and gold. In the centre a camellia [tsubaki] (Camellia japonica) flowerspray in a double circle in underglaze blue. The sides with two groups of flowering chrysanthemums, bush clover [hagi] (Lespedeza bicolor), and single kiku-flowers the latter in low relief. On the outside two half kiku-flower motifs in brocade style alternating with groups of flowering chrysanthemums and bush clover [hagi] (Lespedeza bicolor). Round the foot an upturned spiky lotus leaves-pattern border and on the foot a silk-worm pattern border.
Although some types of chrysanthemums [kiku] begin flowering in the summer, the chrysanthemum is primarily an indication of autumn. Despite the chrysanthemum's status as a symbol of the Japanese imperial house, this meaning is only relevant when a 'sixteen'-fold double chrysanthemum', the stylized family crest (mon), is placed prominently and singly on an object. (Fitski 2011, p.149)
Bush clover [hagi] (Lespedeza bicolor) with its leafy stalk ending in purple flowers, albeit mostly as a rather small and unremarkable motif. (Fitski 2011, p.148)
The Camellia [tsubaki] (Camellia japonica) of the yamatsubaki type is one of the three variants endemic to Japan, which flower in southernly situated Arita in winter and very early Spring. Together with Prunus mume [ume] which symbolize purity and renewal in Japan, it primarily heralds the coming of spring. (Fitski 2011, p.148)
The half kiku-flower petals are all formed from underglaze blue, five completely blue with only overglaze gilding, the reminder outlined and overglazed in iron-red and gold, or yellow and black enamel with geometric and floral patterns, it is a common motif and was probably derived from embroidered Japanese textiles. (Jörg 2003/1, p.111)
This bowl can be considered a good example of elaborate Imari with raised motifs. The scalloped rim of this bowl is meant to resemble a kiku-flower, a shape mirrored in the decoration. A similar bowl is in the Shibata Collection. (Jörg 2003/1, p.112)
Condition: A professionally restored re-stuck piece to the rim.
References:
Price: Sold.
Chinese Imari 1700-1800
Object 2012529
Large teapot or hot water pot
China
1720-1730
Height with cover 213 mm (8.39 inch), height without cover 157 mm (6.18 inch), diameter handle to spout 272 mm (10.71 inch), diameter of mouthrim 80 mm (3.15 inch), diameter of footring 92 mm (3.62 inch), weight including cover 1,475 grams (52.03 ounce (oz.)), weight cover 183 grams (6.46 ounce (oz.))
Large teapot or hot water pot on footring, curved handle and an S-shaped spout. Domed lid with pointed knob. Chinese Imari, decorated in underglaze blue, overglaze iron-red and gold, with
Very strong and concentrated tea was often drawn in the normal sized teapots. It was used to pour a thin layer into a teacup which was then diluted with hot water from a bouilloire to make it drinkable. Often a little milk was added to soften the taste. This large hot water pot probably served as a boulloire and will have been part of a large tea set. (Jörg 2011/2, p.132, cat. 120)
Jörg suggest that these large size pots might also have been used for wine or punch. (Jörg 2011/2, p.132, cat. 120)
In the collection of Oriental Ceramics of the Groninger Museum is a Japanese tea set that consists of an teapot / hot water pot, six cups and saucers for tea or coffee, six chocolate cups with covers and saucers, a bowl with an overturned rim that might have been a sugar bowl and a ewer which may have been used as a milk jug but could also have been a condiment jug in a dinner set of which parts are also in the Groninger Museum. The set entered the Groninger Museum in 1899 as a bequest of the local collector, Mr. Mello Backer. (Jörg 2003/1, p.201)
For another tea or water pot, please see:
- Famille Verte, Chinese Porcelain in Green Enamels, (C.J.A. Jörg, Schoten, 2011), p.132, cat. 120.
-
Sold Ceramics - Sold Japanese Imari 1690-1800 - 'Gold' Imari - Page 1 - Object 2010668.
For a large teapot / hot water pot in the collection of Oriental ceramics of the Groninger Museum, please see:
Condition: Firing flaws to the body, the handle attachment and the inner footring. The attachment of the underside of the handle to the body with a circular firing tension hairline and a glaze rough spot. A short hairline to the rim of the cover.
References:
Price: Sold.
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