AN EXTREMELY RARE LARGE PAIR OF CHINESE EXPORT CARP-FORM TUREENS AND COVERS, QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD, 1760-1780

Spectacular and impressive, large carp tureens count among the most desirable forms of Chinese porcelain made for the West. Similar to many other grand, naturalistically modeled Chinese Export tureens, the inspiration for carp tureens is often attributed to European porcelain models. Several scholars cite Chelesa-made examples of plaice-form tureens around 1755 as the most likely source of such Chinese Export carp tureens, given the similarities in features such as a raised tail and opened mouth, as noted by Willlam R. Sargent, Treasures from the Peabody Essex Museum, New Haven, 2012, cat. no. 205, when discussing a pair of carp tureens of the same type, but with armorials, in the museum’s collection. Sargent also notes that many point to the cultural significance of carp in Chinese culture, and its rebus of ‘profit’ and ‘excess’, as symbolic in the context of these Chinese Export carp tureens, although the meaning would have been lost to the European audience who commissioned these large and impressive works. 

The current pair is remarkable for their size and unusual bold puce enameling. Large carp tureens of this size from the Qianlong period are rare. Most other Chinese Export fish and carp form tureens range between 8 to 12 inches (20.3 to 30.5 cm) in length, significantly smaller than the present type. Carp tureens are most often seen decorated all over in iron-red, in both large and small sizes. The puce enameling throughout the bodies of the present pair is extremely unusual, and only one other single, closely related example appears to have come to market in recent years, sold at Christie’s Paris, June 11th, 2008, lot 153. Other large carp tureens decorated in rare and colorful enamels include a single example sold in our Monaco rooms, February 29th, 1992, lot 536; two examples formerly in the collection of Mr. and Mrs. J. Richardson Dilworth, one in iron-red with pale grey gills and tips of fins; the other with vibrant yellow-green, blue and pink around the eyes, sold at Christie’s New York, January 26th, lots 38 and 39 respectively. The latter example later entered the James E. Sowell Collection and is illustrated in Michael Cohen and William Motley, Mandarin and Menagerie, Reigate, 2008, pp. 138-139. Another example but decorated primarily with more naturalistic colors of bluish grey with the tip of the tail and fins in iron-red, is illustrated in Maria Antónia Pinto de Matos, The RA Collection of Chinese Ceramics: A Collector’s Vision, Vol. II, London, 2011 cat. no. 253. 

A small number of large Chinese Export carp tureens are also seen with Spanish arms. A pair mounted in ormolu is illustrated in Sargent, Ibid., each bearing the arms of Olza family on one cheek. An example with a metal replacement cover, decorated on one cheek with the arms of José Bernando de de Gálvez y Gallardo, is in a private collection and illustrated in Jean McClure Mudge, Chinese Export Porcelain in North America, New York, 1986, fig. 65. Another example complete with its cover and stand, decorated with the arms of Juan Bautista de Uztariz y Gaztelu by the tail in a circular panel, was sold at Christie’s Paris, June 13th, 2007, lot 279. Two further examples with similar coloring of the Bautista example are extant, one is illustrated in William R. Sargent, Chinese Porcelain in the Conde Collection, Mexico, 2014, cat. no. 10, with a replacement metal cover, rather than arms, the circular panel by the tail is painted with a gilt bouquet of flowers. This example was previously sold at Sotheby Parke-Bernet, October 16th, 1969, lot 101. Sargent comments that the existence of the circular panel may suggest that this example was perhaps a Spanish commission as well. The other example, with its cover and a stand, was sold at Christie’s Paris, June 9th, 2015, lot 308.

The present pair of tureens was formerly in the collection of Sir Albert Edward Delaval Astley (1882-1956), 21st Baron Hastings, and Lady Hastings, Marguerite Helen Astley (1887-1975). Lord Hastings served in the 7th Hussars during World War I, and attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He later held public office as the Vice-Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk, as well as Justice of the Peace of Norfolk. Lady Hastings was the daughter of the 3rd Marquess of Abergavenny, and married Lord Hastings in 1907. The carp tureens were subsequently sold from their collection in our London rooms in 1958, and according to the Rockefeller Archives Center’s records, Nelson Rockefeller acquired them from the Portuguese fine arts dealer António Costa in 1969, since they have remained in the Rockefeller family's possession.