Lot 41
41
A RARE CHINESE IMARI SHELL-SHAPED EWER AND BASIN

Details
A RARE CHINESE IMARI SHELL-SHAPED EWER AND BASIN
FIRST QUARTER 18TH CENTURY

After a European silver shape, the ewer modelled as a nautilus shell with ear-shaped handle and pedestal foot, the basin a deep scallop shell supported on three small periwinkle shell feet, all decorated with fluted panels of strapwork picked out in iron-red and gilt and alternating with blue-ground sections highlighted with gilt strapwork or flowering vines (handle restuck, mouth fritted, basin with small frits and one chip with small loss and associated crack)--11¼in. (28.5cm.) high and 14¼in. (36.2cm.) wide (2)

Lot Essay

Howard and Ayers, China for the West, illustrate a very similar ewer and mismatched basin from the Mottahedeh Collection, p. 144, later sold Sotheby's New York, January 30, 1985, lot 74. Another similar ewer and basin was offered at Sotheby's London, May 8, 1990, lot 29.