A rare small Pronk five-piece garniture circa 1740

comprising: three baluster vases and covers and two beaker vases, painted after a design by Cornelis Pronk for the VOC depicting cockatoos in a red-ground panel between blue zigzag borders and iron-red and gilt butterflies

One of the rarer of the group of Pronk-designed or inspired patterns, this is closely related to the parrot-on-the-perch pattern. Cockatoo examples have been sold at Christie's New York, 22 January 2003, lot 98, Sotheby's New York, 24 Januari 1995, lot 1155 (three pieces) and Sotheby's Monaco, 4 March 1984