A CHINESE EXPORT PORTRAIT COFFEE CUP AND SAUCER circa 1745

each painted en grisaille with a half-length portrait of Willem van Haren within an oval or roundel inscribed WILLEN VAN HAREN Grietman op het Bild En Staten Generaal Wcgens de Provintie van Friesland &c &c &c. beneath or above the Van Haren coat of arms interrupting a gilt-heightened border of peacocks, scalework panels, floral garlands, foliate scrolls and strapwork.  The saucer with a small frit-chip.

Property of a Gentleman, sold, Christie's, London, June 14, 1976, lot 234
Philip Suval, Inc., New York
The collection of François Hervouët, Belgium, nos. 553 and 552, sold, Sotheby's, Monte Carlo, June 22, 1987, lot 1632

François and Nicole Hervouët and Yves Bruneau, La Porcelaine des Compagnies des Indes a Décor Occidental, p. 221, no. 9.81 (the saucer)
Dr. Jochem Kroes, Chinese Armorial Porcelain for the Dutch Market, p. 297, cat. no. 213

Gilding on rim edges worn on both, interior of cup and the handle with firing pits; saucer with 3mm frit on rim exterior at 3 o'clock, some stacking wear; both with Hervouet sticker.
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.

This coffee cup and saucer are illustrated by Kroes (see Literature above), who translates the inscription on the saucer as "Willem van Haren, mayor of Het Bildt (Northern Friesland) and delegate to the States General representing the Province of Friesland," etc., etc., etc. He further comments that "this portrait together with inscription and arms is copied from a copper engraving by C. de Putter [dates unknown, but working in Amsterdam in the 18^th century, which he also illustrates, p. 297, no. 213b] after a painting by Bernard Accama (1697-1756).  It was printed in a book of poems by Willem van Haren entitled De vier uitmuntende gedichten and published in 1742 by D. van Lennep in Harderwijk."  Van Haren (1710-68), who lived in the parish of St. Anne in Het Bildt, was largely a public servant in Friesland, and was one of the two principal representatives of the Prince of Orange in The Hague during the events of the restoration of the Stadholdership in 1747.  But he was unable to separate his public persona from his turbulent personal life with its multiple marriages, mistresses, children in and out of wedlock, debts and eventually social ostracism; and ultimately, a family scandal involving his brother precipitated his suicide by poisoning in 1768.