A CHINESE EXPORT SILVER-SHAPE COFFEE POT AND COVER circa 1740

painted in a roundel on either side of the vertically ribbed body with a lady holding a bird pecking at the fruit and nuts in her apron before a gilt coffee pot and two teabowls on a tray by the window beyond, at the base of the spout, behind the handle and on either side of the cover a stylized floral spray, the rim of each with a gilt spearhead border, and the cover and handle pierced with holes for a hinged mount.  The spout and knop with chips.

Sidney L. Moss, London
The collection of François Hervouët, no. 454, sold, Sotheby's, Monte Carlo, June 22, 1987, lot 1578

San Francisco, Fall Antiques Show, 1995

François and Nicole Hervouët and Yves Bruneau, La Porcelaine des Compagnies des Indes a Décor Occidental, p. 136, no. 6.65

A 1/4-inch shallow chip on one side of the spout, a 1/8 inch shallow chip on the front of the spout rim, minor stress cracks down one side of spout, gilding worn from the spearhead border around the rim, also worn around the roundels, pinprick holes to glaze on body, handle with firing cracks at both joins to the body, base with Hervouet sticker; cover with a very shallow 3/8 inch chip under the edge, wear to the gilding on the knop, knop with a 3mm chip on its tip, pinprick holes to glaze.
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.

According to Hervouët and Bruneau (see Literature above), the decoration on this pot is taken from an engraving by Claude Duflos (1665-1727) after a painting by Rosalba Carriera (1675-1757). A slightly later plate is also illustrated, p. 136, no. 6.66, exhibiting a slightly altered version of the scene within a floral vine border.