CHINESE EXPORT "TOY" COCKEREL COFFEE CUP

Qianlong, c1760

Painted in famille rose and blue enamels with a cockerel perched on a blooming prunus stump sided by peonies,

iron red and gilt loop-diapered border

Cockerels represent the warmth and light of the universe. Often a feather of a cockerel was placed on

the chest of the deceased, to awaken them at first light for their journey to their journey to the afterlife. The

white cockerel is considered a guardian against evil, while the red cockerel is a guardian against fire.

Condition: Excellent

Chinese export toy, or miniature, porcelain is a charming extravagance from the 18th century. It was not

made for merely for children, but to delight adults - which it certainly does. The scale and craftsmanship is as

meticulous as the larger wares. They are somewhat rare, eliciting always an overwhelming impulse to touch and

hold. Worcester, Caughley and Liverpool in England also made these toy porcelain wares; however the above

Chinese export "toy" cup predates the English versions by some 10 to 20 years. Longue Vue House & Gardens,

New Orleans, has an excellent collection of these small wares, where the master bedroom displays several Georgian

wall shelves filled with Export and English miniature porcelains. It is worth the trip just to see the display.

Sadly, they cannot be touched.

Please see The Magazine Antiques, December 2008, pp.88-93 for a related article.

1.5" High

Price : Please Inquire

#5308

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