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Lot Essay
The most usual interpretation of this lively scene of female equestrian figures is that of the female generals of the Yang family from the Northern Song dynasty (AD 960-1127). The Yang family generals were famed for their military prowess and loyalty to the Emperor in protecting China from northern invaders. Eventually, however, the majority of the male members of the Yang family were killed in battle. To avenge their husbands' deaths and in defense of their country, the women of the Yang family took up arms and are shown here practicing their equestrian skills prior to riding out to meet the enemy.
This design appears to have been particularly popular from about 1715-1735 and is most commonly found decorated in the rose-verte or famille rose palette. Rose-verte dishes with this design were known to have been amongst those in the vast collection of Augustus the Strong (see F. Reichel, Die Porzellansammlung Augusts des Starken, Dresden 1993, no. 21). A near pair and a single verte-Imari dish of this design from the collection of the Counts Potocki, Poland, were sold at Christie's, London, 26 April 2016, lots 77 and 78.
This design appears to have been particularly popular from about 1715-1735 and is most commonly found decorated in the rose-verte or famille rose palette. Rose-verte dishes with this design were known to have been amongst those in the vast collection of Augustus the Strong (see F. Reichel, Die Porzellansammlung Augusts des Starken, Dresden 1993, no. 21). A near pair and a single verte-Imari dish of this design from the collection of the Counts Potocki, Poland, were sold at Christie's, London, 26 April 2016, lots 77 and 78.