A CHINESE EXPORT FIGURE OF A EUROPEAN LADY circa 1705-15

wearing a pale yellow lace-edged short veil over her hair coiffed à la Fontanges, a pearl necklace, a lace-edged bodice and cuffs, and a green dress over her iron-red and yellow-embroidered petticoat, its folds accentuated with grisaille hatching, and standing on a low conformingly-shaped base.  The hands restored.

San Francisco, Fall Antiques Show. 1995

Restoration to both hands, left cuff with a 3mm chip on the back edge.
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 figure of a lady is the rarest of the three female models of this type, intended to form a pair to a companion model of a gentleman, and traditionally referred to as 'Louis XIV and Madame de Maintenon' (or alternatively, 'Madame de Montespan' or 'Madame de Mainfloron').  A pair of figures of this model and her male companion is illustrated by Sargent, p. 105, no. 48, who on p. 104 makes the comment (well supported by the hatched shading on the lady's skirt in direct imitation of an engraving) that "these figures may be based on French fashion plates of about 1700, possibly the engravings by Nicolas and Robert Bonnart [(1637-1718) and (1652-1729), respectively], or others, of what purport to be the royal family" or the nobility, examples of which are illustrated by Roger Armand Weiger, Bonnart, Personnages de Qualité 1680-1715 (Paris, circa 1956), p. 1 and pls. I-II. A print of a similar fashionable lady is illustrated by Howard and Ayers, Vol. I, p. 581, no. 601a, who also illustrate on p. 580, no. 601 the pair of figures of another of the similar models, which was in the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Rafi Y. Mottahedeh, sold in these rooms on January 30, 1985, lot 330, and subsequently in the collection of Mrs. Lammot du Pont Copeland, illustrated by Sargent, p. 107, no. 49.

Another pair of figures of this model and her companion is illustrated by Beurdeley, p. 103, fig. 74; and by Lunsingh Scheurleer, pl. 334.