A RARE CHINESE EXPORT EUROPEAN SUBJECT PLATTER, QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD, CIRCA 1750 |

painted in the center with a landscape scene of Don Quixote riding a horse led by Sancho Panza with two European ladies peering from behind a tree, the border with Meissen-style panels. Together with a modern Mottahedeh porcelain reproduction of the same platter from the Nelson Rockefeller Collection 

Philip Bromfield, J.P., 1739-99, thence by descent in the family
Sotheby's London, February 20, 1968, lot 144 (one of a pair) 
A. M. Salgueiro Baptista, Lisbon, March 31, 1970

The platter with an approx. 1 in. rim chip on the top edge, as illustrated in the catalogue, and an adjacent approx. 1/2 in. chip restuck. There are several small restored chips to the rim edge. The very edge of the rim has been overpainted and which has now flaked. Overall with very minor stacking wear to the enamels. The Mottahedeh reproduction in overall good condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The original owner of this service is said to be Philip Bromfield J.P.,  Captain of the armed East Indaiman 'St. Anne' who commanded 'The Salisbury' at Canton in 1771. He was elected elder Brother of the Corporation of Trinity House and played a role in thwarting the Nore mutiny in 1797. The service remained in the family until 1968, when a part was dispersed in our London rooms. However, as discussed in David Howard and John Ayers, China for the West, Vol. I, cat. no. 344, where a plate from the same service is illustrated, stylistically the service pre-dates Bromfield's visits to Canton, unless he he ordered it for a member of his family while he was a young man. 
There are two services painted with the 'Don Quixote' pattern published, the earlier service produced around 1742, the decoration of that service faithfully copying an engraving by J. Folkema (1692-1767). This engraving derives from another engraving by B. Picart (1673-1733), which was after a painting by C. Coypel. The present example is from the second iteration of the service, circa 1750, which was redrawn by a Chinese artist as evident in the rendering of the background rockwork and trees. It is interesting to note that the Mottahedeh porcelain reproduction that accompanies this lot is a direct copy of the present platter.