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 four weeks each object in 'Recent Acquisitions' will be moved to their specific category.
Latest update; February 16, 2020.
Kraak Porcelain wares 1570-1645
Object 2010985
Small dish
China
1595-1645
Height 34 mm (1.34 inch), diameter of rim 147 mm (5.79 inch), diameter of footring 78 mm (3.07 inch), weight 151 grams (5.33 ounce (oz.))
Small dish on footring, everted and scalloped rim. Some kiln sand adhering to the footring. The meisande, or petalled, style decoration in underglaze blue with a butterfly in flight in a marshy landscape encircled by an eight-pointed scalloped medallion. On the sides and rim eight round, or onion shaped, medallions, decorated with peaches and auspicious symbols, in between each medallion a single looped bow. On the reverse seven broad panels filled with five dots.
According to Rinaldi this dish can be classified as a border VIII dish. In Border VIII dishes rims are always straight with a slightly flared and foliated edge. The panels on the gently curved cavetto are transformed into round or drop-shaped medallions. These are separated from the usual eight-pointed centre medallion by thickly drawn brackets. Dishes of this type are usually small (from 13 to 20 cm in diameter). Auspicious symbols have become the most common decoration in the centre medallions, but floral motifs or animal appear as well. The grasshopper emerges as a favourite decoration. The underside is divided into sections by a single line bifurcated near the footrim. Each section contains stylized symbols or jewels and dots. (Rinaldi 1989, pp.109-111)
Condition: Crooked shaped and some firing flaws, caused by the firing process. Some shallow glaze rough spots and a shallow frit to the rim. Some spots with scratches to the glaze.
References:
Price: € 349 - $ 378 - £ 287
(the $ and £ prices are approximates and depend on the € price exchange rate)
Chine de commande - Western Subjects 1680-1800 - Western Designers -Merian, Maria Sybille (1647-1717)
Object 2011522
Dish
China
c.1740
Height 45 mm (1.77 inch), diameter of rim 352 mm (13.86 inch), diameter of footring 145 mm (5.71 inch), weight 556 grams (19.61 ounce (oz.))
Dish on footring, flat underglaze brown-edged rim (jia mangkou). Decorated in underglaze blue and gold with two flowers, one iris the other possibly a peony variant encircled by a decorative border in underglaze blue with flower heads in gold. On the sides and rim intertwined floral and foliate scrolls. The decoration in gold has completely rubbed off but is still visible in ghost form.
German/Dutch botanist Maria Sybille Merian (1647-1717), described the insects of the West Indies, Surinam in particular. For the central decoration on this specific dish, no matching print of her has been found. The intertwined floral and foliate scrolls decoration on the sides make that this dish can be categorised as a "Merian-style" dish.
Sargent states that with regard to the polychrome enamel "Merian" dishes, four separate engravings from the third volume of Maria Sybille Merian's Raupenbuch (Caterpillar Book), published posthumously by her daughter in 1717, were used to compose the illustration on this plate and those in blue and white as well. (Sargent 2012, p.245)
For an identically in "Merian-style" decorated dish, please see:
-
Sold Ceramics - Sold Chine de commande - Western Subjects 1680-1800 - Western Designers - Page 1 - Merian, Maria Sybille (1647-1717), Object 2011359.
- Aziatische Keramiek en Glas, exhibition catalogue of the J.M. van Diepen collection, (D.F. Lunsingh Scheurleer, Fraeylemaborg Slochteren, Groningen, 1982), p.22, cat. 51.
For similar "Merian" dishes, decorated in polychrome enamels, 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. 1, p.304, cat. 298.
- Christie's pictorial history of Chinese ceramics, (A. du Boulay, Phaidon-Christie's, Oxford 1984), p.233, cat. 15.
- The Choice of the Private Trader. The Private Market in Chinese Export Porcelain illustrated from the Hodroff Collection, (D.S. Howard, Zwemmer, London, 1994), p.78, cat. 60.
- Chinese Ceramics in the Collection of the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, The Ming and Qing Dynasties, (C.J.A. Jörg in collaboration with J. van Campen, Philip Wilson in association with The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, London 1997), p.287, cat. 334.
- The Dr Anton C.R. Dreesmann Collection, European Furniture and Chinese Export Porcelain, auction catalogue Christie's London 10 April 2002, p.217, lot 416.
- Treasures of Chinese Export Ceramics from the Peabody Essex Museum, (W.R. Sargent, Salem, Massachusetts, 2012), p.245, plate 120.
Condition: The decoration in gold has completely rubbed off but is still visible in ghost form. Firing flaws to the base and footring, two fleabites and a frit to the rim.
References:
Howard & Ayers 1978, vol. 1, cat. 334
Lunsingh Scheurleer 1982, cat. 51
Jörg & Van Campen 1997, cat. 334
Sargent 2012, p.183 & cat. 120
Price: € 399 - $ 439 - £ 338
(the $ and £ prices are approximates and depend on the € price exchange rate)
Red & Gold / Rouge-de-Fer 1690-1730
Object 2011691
Tea caddy
China
1700-1720
Height with cover 124 mm (4.88 inch), height without cover 98 mm (3.86 inch), dimensions 86 mm (3.39 inch) x 45 mm (1.77 inch), diameter of mouthrim 20 mm (0.79 inch), weight with cover 292 grams (10.30 ounce (oz.)), weight cover 11 grams (0.39 ounce (oz.))
Tea-caddy of rectangular form with canted corners, a flat shoulder with a upright unglazed neck. The original cover is missing. Fitted with contemporary (marked) Dutch silver mounts. The flat base is unglazed. Chinese Imari, decorated in underglaze blue, overglaze iron-red, and gold. On the body and the flat shoulder decorated with various flowering plants. Round the shoulder a border with zig-zag lines and half flower heads. The silver marks explained: the makers mark 'JH', it is unknow to whom these initials refer, the sword mark was used (1814-1905) as the standard mark on articles too small for the full hallmarking.
For an identically shaped and decorated tea caddy, please see:
Condition: A firing tension hairline to the base and a popped bubble of glaze both caused by the firing process. Glaze rough spots to the edges on the shoulder and a chip top a corner of the base.
Reference:
Price: Sold.
Japanese wares with Western Shapes or Designs 1653-1800
Object 2012247
Ewer
Japan
1670-1690
Height 184 mm (7.24 inch), diameter handle to spout 115 mm (4.53 inch), diameter of mouthrim 27 mm (1.06 inch), diameter of footring 57 mm (2.24 inch), weight 395 grams (13.93 ounce (oz.))
Pear shaped ewer on footring. Slender upright spout with a curved C-shaped handle.Fitted with an contemporary unmarked Dutch silver mount. Decorated in underglaze blue with a roundel inscribed with the initial 'A' for the Dutch word azijn (vinegar) surrounded by various plants growing from rockwork on both sides of the body, on the neck an upturned lotus leaves-pattern border and on the handle and spout classic foliate patterns.
A specific group of ewers is decorated with the letters 'O´, 'A', or 'S' indicating their contents: 'O' stands for olie (oil), 'A' for azijn (vinegar), 'L' for limoen (lemon), the 'S' or 'Z' for soya or zoja (soy). They were used at the dinner table in The Netherlands. Arts adds the letter 'C' for conserven (?) (preserves). Oil and vinegar sets with inscribed initials were made in Delft faience, often with a container for two or four ewers, such Delftware examples were used as models for the Japanese imitations. Chinese ewers of this period with initials are not known, but close copies of the Japanese pieces were made in the 18th century. 'oil and vinegar jugs' were mentioned as early as 1664, but these were probably ordinary small ewers without initials. (Arts 1983, p.50), (Jörg 2003/1, pp.176-177)
For identically shaped and sized ewers, please see:
For a sold ewer initialed with the letter 'O' for olie (oil), please see:
Condition: Firing flaws, caused by the firing process, to the handle and the underside of the spout. A partial rough unglazed upper rim of the spout and a shallow chip to the underside of the tip of the spout.
References:
Lunsingh Scheurleer 1971, cat. 108
Price: € 999 - $ 1,110 - £ 851
(the $ and £ prices are approximates and depend on the € price exchange rate)
Kraak Porcelain wares 1570-1645 - Dishes
Object 2011133
Dish
China
1610-1630
Height 55 mm (2.17 inch), diameter 317 mm (12.48 inch), diameter of footring 165 mm (6.50 inch), weight, including the brass fame, 1,046 grams (36.89 ounce (oz.))
Dish on footring, slightly scalloped flat rim. Decorated in underglaze blue with the ducks-in-a-pond motif, encircled by an eight-pointed scalloped medallion. On the sides and rim large panels filled with fruit and flower motifs and auspicious symbols alternating with narrow panels filled with dots and a diaper or scale pattern. On the reverse large ogival or round panels filled with fungus and dots and narrow panels with lingzhi motifs. Fitted in a custom-made brass frame engraved 'H.W. Kardolus Delft'.
According to Rinaldi this dish can be classified as a Border VII.2 dish. Here the large panels on the border are no longer filled with floral sprays or insects, while the peach has begun its transformation into what is known as the sunflower motif. Auspicious symbols replace floral sprays and insects, most of them concerned with longevity, as if to ward off the dangers of wars and famines which swept over China at that time. These symbols are usually Daoist or the Eight treasures. Buddhist symbols are much rarer. In this group narrow panels are partly filled with diaper motifs. In the centre Medallion the ducks in a pond and the hanging basket are still very common. In this group a new motif appears: a bird on a rock near water and large flowers, usually peonies. The scheme of the underside repeats that of the front. Large ogival or round panels contain fungus and dots; narrow sections contain stylised lingzhi motifs. In this group narrow panels are partly filled with diaper motifs while there are a few dishes which do not have a diaper border around the central medallion. (Rinaldi 1989, pp.100-105)
A design of a wild duck at a lotus pond signifies blessings for a fruitful marriage, since a marriage proposal was made by a man sending a duck to the woman's family as a present. Acceptance of the duck meant acceptance of the proposal. The lotus, shown in different stages of growth, symbolizes purity and abundant offspring by recalling the common phrase "from the lotus comes noble offspring". (Sjostrand & Lok Lok 2007, p.288, Serial No. 5095
For similarly decorated dishes with the ducks-in-a-pond motif, please see:
- Kraak porcelain. A moment in the history of trade, (M. Rinaldi, Bamboo Publishing Ltd, London 1989), p.101, Pl.90.
- The Wanli Shipwreck and its ceramic cargo, (S. Sjostrand & S. Lok Lok bt. Syed Idrus, Kuala Lumpur 2007), pp.170-171, Serial No. 2454
-
Sold Ceramics - Sold Kraak Porcelain wares 1570-1645 - Dishes - Page 1 - Object 2010724.
The dish is fitted in a custom-made brass fame that is engraved: 'H.W. Kardolus Delft'. H.W. Kardolus had an art dealing, framing and engraving business in the city of Delft where he worked from 1920 to 1950. This indicates that the brass frame was probably fitted to the dish somewhere in first half of the 20th century.
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Advertisment from H.W. Kardolus in 'Almanak van de Delftsche vrouwelijke studenten Vereeniging voor het jaar 1948'.
Condition: Three firing flaws, caused by the firing process, to the reverse, some shallow glaze rough spots to the rim and a shallow chip to the inner footring.
References:
Rinaldi 1989, pp.100-105 & Pl.90 & Pl.93
Sjostrand & Lok Lok 2007, p.288 & Serial No. 2454 & 5095
Price: Sold.
Japanese Blue and White wares 18th Century
Object 2012239
Bottle
Japan
c.1780
Height 330 mm (12.99 inch), diameter 135 mm (5.31 inch), diameter of mouthrim 16 mm (0.63 inch), diameter of footring 70 mm (2.76 inch), weight 878 grams (30.97 ounce (oz.))
Pear-shaped bottle on footring, rounded body, tall narrow neck. Decorated in underglaze blue with around the foot a band of lappets. On the body a group of three flowering plants, bamboo, prunus and pine, alternating with three groups of irises. Round the neck a border of descending leafs.
The band of lappets round the foot can also be seen on polychrome bottles dating the same period in the late 18th century.
For a similarly shaped and dated bottles, please see;
- Complete Catalogue of the Shibata Collection, (The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Kyushu 2003), p.480, cat. 3780 & 3781.
- Shibata collection part IV, (The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Kyushu 1995), p.128, cat. 266 & 237.
Condition: Firing flaws to the base and foot, a frit to the rim and a chip to the inner footring.
References:
Price: Sold.
Japanese Imari 1690-1800 - Dishes
Object 2010C313
Dish
Japan
1700-1740
Height 49 mm (1.93 inch), diameter of rim 272 mm (10.71 inch), diameter of footring 140 mm (5.51 inch), weight 708 grams (24.97 ounce (oz.))
Dish on footring, flat rim. On the base four spur-marks in a Y-pattern. Imari, decorated in underglaze blue, iron-red and gold with a phoenix or pheasant perched on rockwork looking up to another phoenix or pheasant in flight. Various flowering plants originate from the rockwork, On the sides three pine trees each enclosing a large golden roundel. The pine trees are flanked by blossoming prunus and cherry trees. On the reverse three widespread flowering cherry blossom sprays. On the base a rectangular paper label with the handwritten letter 'M' in blue ink.
For a smaller but identically shaped and decorated dish, please see:
- The Shibata Collection Part II, (The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Kyushu, 1991), p.223, cat. 560.
- Complete Catalogue of the Shibata Collection, (The Kyushu Ceramic Museum, Kyushu 2003), p.363, cat. 2848.
Condition: Two firing flaws to the rim, caused by the firing process.
References:
Price: € 899 - $ 1,004 - £ 768
(the $ and £ prices are approximates and depend on the € price exchange rate)
Japanese Blue and White wares 17th Century
Object 2012172
Bowl
Japan
c.1670
Height 106 mm (4.17 inch), diameter of rim 215 mm (8.46 inch), diameter of footring 85 mm (3.35 inch), weight 810 grams (28.57 ounce (oz.))
Bowl on footring, straight sides. Decorated in underglaze blue with three stylised medallions filled with a flower head surrounded by flower sprays alternating with dots. In between the medallions flower heads with leafy sprays, round the base a pointed pendant leaves-pattern border. Round the inner rim a geometric-pattern border. On the bottom two large flower heads with leafy branches in a double concentric band. Marked on the base with the Chokichidani (Arita) ovens mark within a single-lined circle, underglaze blue.
Sherds of similar bowls have been found at the Nishinobori kiln (not Chokichidani).
Such bowls would probably have been made for the South-East Asian market, another similarly shaped, sized and decorated bowl is in an English private collection.
For a similarly decorated Japanese bowl with the Chokichidani (Arita) ovens mark, please see:
For a sold dish, marked with the Chokichidani (Arita) ovens mark, please see:
Condition: A popped bubble of glaze, caused by the firing process, to the inner rim and some rough spots to the footring.
Price: Sold.
Japanese wares over-decorated in the West 18th Century - Dutch over-decorated Amsterdams Bont
Object 2011541
Teapot
Japan
1700-1720
Height with cover 97 mm (3.81 inch), height without cover 67 mm (2.64 inch), diameter handle to spout 124 mm (4.88 inch), diameter of mouthrim 45 mm (1.77 inch), diameter of foot 55 mm (2.17 inch), weight with cover 237 grams (8.36 ounce (oz.)), weight cover 46 grams (1.62 ounce (oz.))
Globular pear-shaped teapot on footring, fluted body. Curved handle and a straight spout. Ribbed cover and knob. Decorated in underglaze blue and gold, over-decorated in iron-red and green and black enamel in The Netherlands, Amsterdams Bont c.1750-1770. On each side two in underglaze blue with overglaze gold outlined reserves filled with a flower basket with ribbons and various flowering plants. round the neck a silkworm-pattern border in green and black enamel. On the handle a floret between scrolls and on the spout stylised spays. On the cover a flower basket with ribbons and various flowering plants alternating with a flower spray.
Amsterdams Bont is the name given to a specific group of Japanese or Chinese 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 colored 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.
The demand for Japanese porcelain was strong but production was restricted so here was a gap in the market that the enameller could fill most profitably by giving Chinese porcelain a Japanese look. The simplest way of transferring Chinese porcelain into 'Japanese' was to enhance Chinese blue and white porcelain with iron-red and gold to create the appearance of Imari. For European decorated oriental porcelain mostly Chinese export porcelain objects were used. Only a small proportion were Japanese.
The cover on this teapot seems to be a little large though it fits perfectly, and the decoration is matching. Other identically shaped teapots are known also with a similarly large cover, please see the picture below. (This teapot and cover are not included in this sale/offer)
Condition: A firing flaw to the handle, overall some fine crazing to the glaze of the teapot, A chip to the underside of the rim of the cover and three chips to the inner rim of the cover.
Reference:
Price: € 699 - $ 777 - £ 592
(the $ and £ prices are approximates and depend on the € price exchange rate)
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