CIRCA 1736

Details

A RARE CHINESE IMARI 'DAME AU PARASOL' OVAL BASIN
CIRCA 1736
The interior painted and enamelled in underglaze blue, iron-red and gilt with two ladies beside water-fowl and reeds, one lady holding a parasol, the iron-red border reserved with water-fowl cartouches alternating with the two ladies repeated in individual panels, the exterior with a similar border
12¼ in. (31.2 cm.) wide

Special notice

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Lot Essay

The Dutch draughtsman, Cornelis Pronk (1691-1754), was commissioned by directors of the Dutch East India Company in 1734 to produce designs to be transferred on to Chinese porcelain, which they hoped would be more successful than Chinese designs. However, due to the expense of transferring his designs onto porcelain, the volume of Pronk's work is relatively small, and his designs ceased in 1738. Two watercolours by Pronk of his designs 'La Dame au Parasol' and 'The Doctors' Visit' are in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. 'La Dame au Parasol' was the first design to be commissioned on porcelains. According to records, only two orders of this design were believed to have been placed: the first was completed and sent to the Netherlands on the Hogersmilde at the end of 1738, followed by the second order the next year. Although pieces decorated in the Imari palette are more common, it is rare to find a basin with this design.

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