A FINE AND RARE BLUE AND WHITE 'MUSIC PARTY' PLATE painted in brilliant blue tones with a central outdoor scene depicting a European music party, a lady with her hair dressed à la mode Fontanges playing a dulcimer on a table, accompanied by two gentlemen wearing frock-coats and elaborate wigs, playing the flute and the lute, all within eight shaped panels of figures in mountainous landscapes and riverscapes, divided by half flower-heads at the border, the reverse with three sprays of bamboo, circa 1700-10

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A FINE AND RARE BLUE AND WHITE 'MUSIC PARTY' PLATE painted in brilliant blue tones with a central outdoor scene depicting a European music party, a lady with her hair dressed à la mode Fontanges playing a dulcimer on a table, accompanied by two gentlemen wearing frock-coats and elaborate wigs, playing the flute and the lute, all within eight shaped panels of figures in mountainous landscapes and riverscapes, divided by half flower-heads at the border, the reverse with three sprays of bamboo, circa 1700-10
33.8cm. diam.

Lot Essay

The 'Music Party' scene in the centre of this plate was copied from a print drawn by the Parisian Robert Bonnart and engraved by Nicholas Bonnart (1646-1718), his brother. The print, a copy of which is in the Bibliothèque Natonale, Paris, is entitled 'Symphonie du Tympanum, du Luth et de la Flute d'Allemagne'. It is accompanied by the following verses which compare the pleasures of music to those of love.'Un Consert est charmant lors qu'il est bien d'accord, Et qu'on sçait justement suivre sa tablature; mais il est bien plus doux, ou je me trompe fort, Quand l'Amour prend plaisir de battre la mesure.'
For an illustration of the Bonnart print and a similar plate Cf.D.Howard and J.Ayers, op.cit., p.77, pl.35 & 35a. The author suggests that the accuracy of the copying and the hatched style of the drawing confirm that the prints were the direct sources of the Chinese artist. Cf.also F & N.Hervouet and Y.Bruneau, op.cit., p.189, pl.8.18. for a colour illustration.

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