A PAIR OF CHINESE EXPORT COFFEE POTS AND TWO COVERS circa 1735-40

each painted on either side with a Dutchman holding a walking stick and standing within a green-edged oval panel, and on the front and reverse with rose-verte flowering plants flanking the serpent spout and scroll handle within a blue-edged circular panel, all between a series of floral, spearhead, tasseled lambrequin, dentil and gadroon borders around the upper and lower body, the covers with four diapered lappets encircling the gilt double-gourd-shaped knop above spearhead and whorl bands around the rim.  Repairs and imperfections, and one cover slightly small and possibly assembled.

Sold, Christie's, London, November 17, 1986, lot 408

San Francisco, Fall Antiques Show, 1995

One pot with minor wear to the gilding, small areas where blue enamel did not take; one cover with chips to blue enamel, cover hinge chipped away or beveled, 5mm shallow chip on edge of front, wear to gilding on the knop; one pot with wear to gilding and chips to blue enamel, one hinge loop restored; one cover with wear to gilding on rim edge and knop, and lower edge of rim with a 2mm chip (two covers do not match each other perfectly, second without hinged tab).
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.

An identical coffee pot from the Martin-Hurst Collection is illustrated by Williamson, pl. XXIV (top, center), who on p. 66 notes that it "is one of a set of four, but the details of the decoration vary on each piece."  Another is illustrated by Howard 1994, p. 155, no. 169, who comments that "this most unusual coffee pot has all the appearance of a novelty created in the form of a mug and cover, with bird-like spout and handle mimicking a fashion just gaining popularity in Europe."  A further example was in the collection of Angelo Castelo Branco Cerqueira Caldas, sold at Sotheby's in London on May 8, 1990, lot 167.