CIRCA 1730-40

Details

A SET OF FOUR FAMILLE ROSE 'BOTANICAL' PLATES
CIRCA 1730-40
Each enamelled at the centre with a white-bodied catepillar crawling on the leaf of a blue iris, beside another with green body crawling amongst the petals of an orchid, a butterfly hovering above, enclosed by an underglaze blue and gilt floral band in the well and a braod band of elaborate strapwork, acanthus leaves and gilt stylised flowerheads at the border, one with hairline crack and shallow chip, one with shallow chip
10 1/16 in. (25.6 cm.) diam. (4)

Provenance

Alfred Morrison Collection
Fonthill Heirlooms labels, nos. 283, 362, 362, 645

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

The design on these plates is taken from the sketch-book 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. 1, 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. See also the massive famille rose dish with this design included as Lot 227 in the afternoon sale (sale 6948).

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