Two Rare Sets of Chinese Export 'European Subject' Teawares, Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period, circa 1760 and circa 1775 | 清乾隆 約1760及1775年 西洋人物圖盃連盞兩套
Lot Closed
January 22, 06:59 PM GMT
Estimate
2,000 - 3,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Two Rare Sets of Chinese Export 'European Subject' Teawares
Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period, circa 1760 and circa 1775
清乾隆 約1760及1775年 西洋人物圖盃連盞兩套
comprising: a teabowl and saucer painted in iron-red camaïeu, and a coffee can and saucer decorated in famille-rose enamels, each painted after a European print with an amorous couple under a bower with cupid hovering above holding a floral wreath. 4 pieces
diameter of famille-rose saucer 5 3/8 in.; 13.6 cm
The exact source print responsible for this design remains unidentified. A saucer dish of the same design is illustrated in Thomas V Litzenburg, Jr. in collaboration with Ann T. Bailey, Chinese Export Porcelain in the Reeves Center Collection at Washington and Lee University, London, 2003, cat. no 164, where the author presents an argument by François and Nicole Hervouët and Yves Bruneau, stating that the scene copies an engraving by Noël Le Mire (1724-1800) after Charles-Dominique-Joseph Eisen (1720-78). A teapoy is illustrated in David Howard and John Ayers, China for the West, London, 1978, vol. II, cat. no. 352, where the authors suggest that the source print is in the style of François Boucher (1703-70), and likely a part of a larger composition.