VERY
RARE CHINESE EXPORT SEMI-EGGSHELL "TOY" TEABOWL & SAUCER
"VALENTINE PATTERN", Early Qianlong, c1745
Painted with a garland-draped
breadfruit tree, 2 kissing doves, 2 flaming hearts on the
altar of love, a pair of dogs pining for their master, and
three sheep; the foreground with Cupid's bow and a quiver of
arrows, a pair of spears with a corded escallop shell
(presumably as a helmet), and a lady's hat, and 2 longed-for
friends.
The "Valentine" Pattern is
dedicated to love and was originally given to Commodore
George Anson on his circumnavigation of the world in 1743 – one of the most arduous
voyages in the history of sea adventures.
Begun
in 1740, its original purpose was to attack Spanish
possessions in South
America during the war of Jenkins' Ear. The mission failed,
losing both ships and crew – the crew even mutinying off the
west coast of Chili (1741). Anson eventually collected all
that remained onto his ship Centurion, and with
perseverance, continued westward across the Pacific.
Excessive scurvy and ship leakages forced a refuge on the
small island of Tinian, near
Saipan (1742). There his crews found (and brought back) the
nourishing
breadfruit,
of later fame in the Bounty's mutiny.
Continuing the westward journey, in 1743, he harbored at
Canton,
where he and his men were
instrumental in saving Canton
from a fire which would otherwise have destroyed the entire
city.
In recognition, a porcelain
service – known as "Valentine Pattern" - was
commissioned for Anson, depicting items drawn from the
sketches of his resident artist on that voyage.
Saucer 3-3/16" Diameter; Teabowl
1-1/16" High x 1-7/8" Diameter
SOLD
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RARE PAIR OF "TOY" CHINESE
EXPORT SEMI-EGGSHELL TEABOWLS & SAUCERS
"COCKEREL",
Yongzheng, 1722-35
On thin eggshell porcelain in famille
rose enamels, painted with a yellow and black cockerel with
famille rose comb, beside a blue hollow rick issuing a
blooming prunus, with a butterfly and other small flora
within a thin iron red border
Cockerels represent courage,
and 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 to their journey to
the afterlife.
The white cockerel is
considered a guardian against evil, while the red cockerel
is a guardian against fire.
Saucer 3-1/4" Diameter; Teabowl 1-3/16" High x 2" Diameter
SOLD
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"TOY"
PORCELAINS
Collecting miniatures was a great
favorite among early aristocracy. Among the influences were
the miniature Mogul paintings that flowed into Eastern
Europe in the 1500's. This affection moved quickly to The
Netherlands and thence into England during the reign of Mary
II (1689 -1694). It is said that Her rooms at Kensington
Palace were decorated with many small vases on displayed on
gilded brackets and on little ledges, and on any and every
available surface. Daniel Defoe (1660-1731) stated that
"The Queen (Mary) brought in the custom or humour, as I
may call it, of furnishing houses with China-ware, which
increased to a strange degree afterwards, piling their China
upon the tops of cabinets, scrutores, and every
chymney-piece, to the top of the ceilings, and every setting
up of shelves for their China-ware, where they wanted such
places, till it became a grievance in the experience of it,
and even injurious to their families and estates".
I have also read that the some of
first museums on the Continent were begun to house
collections of miniatures, as their owners aged and wanted
their small prizes to remain safe and honored in time. I cannot
substantiate that information, but it is indeed an
interesting concept
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Click Below
to View
OUR COLLECTION OF
MINIATURE ("TOY") PORCELAINS
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