YONGZHENG QIANLONG, CIRCA 1730-40

Details

A MASSIVE FAMILLE ROSE 'BOTANICAL' DISH
YONGZHENG QIANLONG, CIRCA 1730-40
Finely enamelled at the centre with a white-bodied caterpillar crawling over the leaf of a blue iris beside a green caterpillar crawling amongst the petals of a lily, a butterfly hovering above, all enclosed by an underglaze blue and gilt floral band in the well and a broad band of elaborate strapwork, acanthus leaves and gilt stylised flower head at the border, section of rim restuck
19¼ in. (49 cm.) diam.

Special notice

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Lot Essay

The design at the centre of this dish has been taken from the sketchbook of Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717), a Dutch botanist and artist who was particularly interested in the study of insects and plants in the Dutch West Indies; it is a combination of details from three sketches. The border is reminiscent of designs by Cornelis Pronk. See the plate of this design from the Mottahedeh Collection, illustrated by Howard and Ayers, China for the West, London and New York, 1978, vol.I, p. 304, no.298, where the authors suggest that this design could have originated from the 'studio' of Pronk. This design is more commonly found in underglaze blue, white and gilt. Examples in the famille rose palette can be found in several museums, including the British Museum and the Rijksmuseum. However dishes of this massive size are extremely rare. Compare the dish of similar size but with ogee sides which was offered in these Rooms, 9 November 2004, lot 227.

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