KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)

Although black wares were known in Song ceramics, the taste for what was later named 'famille noire' was almost exclusively a Western taste developed in the Kangxi period. These sumptous wares were esteemed by collectors in that period like Augustus the Strong of Saxony and much later became highly desirable amongst major turn of the century collectors like Frick, Widener, Garland and Salting. Famille noire comprised a good part of the J.P. Morgan collection that was famously acquired through Duveen by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. in 1915.
Compare this garniture, which was brought together by the Tibor Collection founder, with a nearly identical, "rare five-piece famille noire garniture" from a private collection sold Sotheby's New York, 27 November 1990, lot 187, and probably the same sold Christie's London, 5 October 1970.