A CHINESE EXPORT SMALL TEABOWL AND SAUCER circa 1730-35

each painted in thick famille-rose enamels with a European sailing ship and a Chinese junk coursing over foamy green waves with a figure near a pagoda within a crenellated wall amidst rose clouds in the distance, the interior rim with a pink cell diaper border reserved with four landscape panels.  The saucer with small frit-chips.

The collection of Cecil H. Bullivant, Minehead, Somerset
Sidney L. Moss, London 

David Howard and John Ayers, China for the West, Vol. I, p. 218

Cup ok,; saucer with 2mm chip at 3:30 and another at 2:30, a 4mm frit at 5 o'clock, 1mm chip at 8:00 and 10 o'clock; saucer with Sydney Moss 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.

A plate with this decoration, made presumably for the Dutch market, is illustrated by Howard 1994, p. 60, no. 35, who on p. 148, no. 158, also illustrates a teapot, and comments that "there are fewer tea set pieces than plates known.  The latter may have been intended only for display."  The same teapot and plate are illustrated by Howard and Ayers, Vol. I, p. 218, nos. 215 and 215a, respectively, who suggest that the scene is intended to represent shipping on the Pearl River.  That teapot was in the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Rafi Y. Mottahedeh, sold in these rooms on January 30, 1985, lot 127; and a small teabowl and saucer identical to the present example was sold also in these rooms on October 14, 1993, lot 145.