QIANLONG

These baskets were modelled after Meissen originals of circa 1740 and formed part of a table centrepiece comprising a lemon-basket surrounded by small shaped bowls, probably to hold oil and spices, all on a large shaped porcelain tray with turned-out handles. Several Chinese porcelain lemon baskets and stands of this form are known, however the white moulded rockwork over enamelled waves on the stand in the present lot appears to be unrecorded. The stands in all the following examples have the more usual brown-glazed rockwork applied with enamelled florets. See David S. Howard, op.cit., no.143, p.136 for an example in the Hodroff Collection; this basket is not pierced, which the author suggests indicates it was made prior to circa 1770. See D.S. Howard and J. Ayers, op.cit., vol.II, no.583, p.564 for a pierced basket and stand in the Mottahedeh Collection bearing the arms of Rogers (circa 1770), illustrated in colour on p.566 together with an earlier Meissen version. Two further examples from the Copeland Collection are illustrated by William R. Sargent, op.cit., nos. 95 and 96, pp.198 and 199. A pair of pierced baskets and stands is illustrated by D.F. Lunsingh Scheurleer, op.cit., no. 157, and p.218. Another basket and stand of circa 1788, bearing the insignia of the Society of Cincinnati and made for Major Samuel Shaw, are now in the H.F. Du Pont Winterthur Museum, and are illustrated by M. Beurdeley, op.cit., cat.111, p.174. D.S. Howard and J. Ayers, ibid., suggest that by this date they were probably made as single pieces rather than forming part of a larger centrepiece. Another pierced basket and stand of an even later date, circa 1795, from the Helena Woolworth McCann Collection in the Metropolitan Museum, New York, are illustrated by J.G. Phillips, op.cit., pl.96, p.197. Chelsea and Derby versions of this form, deriving from Meissen originals, are also to be found.