QIANLONG PERIOD, CIRCA 1740

The figures have been variously described as 'Louis XIV and Madame de Maitenon (or Madame de Montespan)', and 'A Friesian Couple' , as well as 'General Duff and his wife'. General or Governor Duff is probably the most likely subject being a nickname for Diederik Duiven who was Governor-General of the Dutch East India Company from 1729-31. Examples with this scene, although with slight variations to the decoration, are in the Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Museum, the Rijksmuseum, The Royal Museums of Art and History, Brussels, and the Zeeuws Museum, Middleburg, amongst others. A very similar bowl to this one, formerly in the Benjamin F. Edwards III Collection, and then in the Leo Hodroff Collection, was sold in our New York rooms, 24 January 2007, lot 51.