Lot Essay
This scene is taken from Genesis Chapter XXIV, where Eliezer, servant of Abraham, is impressed by Rebekah's generosity and kindness. Recalling this to Isaac, son of Abraham, Isaac decides to make Rebekah his wife. Although undoubtedly taken from a European engraving, the Chinese artist has used a Chinese style with which to recreate the scene.
Very similar plates are illustrated by Howard and Ayers, China for the West, London and New York, 1978, vol.I, no. 301 (Mottahedeh example); by G. C. Williamson, The Book of Famille Rose, London, 1927, pl. XII (Martin-Hurst example); by Hervouët and Bruneau, La Porcelaine des Compagnies des Indes à Décor Occidental, Paris, 1986, p. 259, fig. 11.3 (Hervouët example); and by M. Beurdeley, Porcelain of the East India Companies, London, 1962, cat.136. A saucer with this design, but no border, is in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, illustrated by D. F. Lunsingh Scheurleer, Chinese Export Porcelain - Chine de Commande, London, 1974, fig. 240.
Very similar plates are illustrated by Howard and Ayers, China for the West, London and New York, 1978, vol.I, no. 301 (Mottahedeh example); by G. C. Williamson, The Book of Famille Rose, London, 1927, pl. XII (Martin-Hurst example); by Hervouët and Bruneau, La Porcelaine des Compagnies des Indes à Décor Occidental, Paris, 1986, p. 259, fig. 11.3 (Hervouët example); and by M. Beurdeley, Porcelain of the East India Companies, London, 1962, cat.136. A saucer with this design, but no border, is in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, illustrated by D. F. Lunsingh Scheurleer, Chinese Export Porcelain - Chine de Commande, London, 1974, fig. 240.