Lot 99
99
A RARE FAMILLE ROSE 'DON QUIXOTE' PLATE
PROPERTY FROM A MIDWESTERN PRIVATE COLLECTION (LOTS 70, 94, 99-105, 107-122) In the 1970s a distinguished Milwaukee physician and his wife became fascinated with Chinese export porcelain, especially with those pieces that reflect an intriguing dialogue between the East and West. Working with major dealers of that era like Elinor Gordon, Rochelle Thomas and Philip Suval, the couple built up a comprehensive collection of high quality European subject pieces, adhering to a strong sense of quality as well as of charm. Christie's is pleased to bring this collection to market so that other collectors may now treasure these lovely pieces.
A RARE FAMILLE ROSE 'DON QUIXOTE' PLATE

CIRCA 1750

Details
A RARE FAMILLE ROSE 'DON QUIXOTE' PLATE
CIRCA 1750
Depicting the knight and his attendant being observed by two maidens, the rim with landscapes and birds within gilt cartouches
9 in. (23 cm.) diameter
Provenance
The Espirito Santo Collection, Lisbon.
Acquired from J. Cherny in 1975.

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Lot Essay

This is the second of two rare services made in Chinese porcelain with this scene from the literary classic. The enameling on the present service is clearly an interpretation by the Chinese artist of the earlier service, but he has omitted Sancho Panza's kneeling donkey, Don Quixote's hat has been transformed from a barber's bowl into a black hat, and the landscape is now typically Chinese. Another plate from the present service is illustrated by Howard and Ayers, China for the West, London and New York, 1978, vol.II, no. 344; and by D. Howard, The Choice of the Private Trader, London, 1994, no. 85, pp. 94 and 95.

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