CHINE, DYNASTIE QING, CIRCA 1736-50

See an identical plate illustrated in R. Krahl and J. Harrisson, Ancient Chinese Trade Ceramics from the British Museum, London, Museum of History, Taipei 1994, pp. 282-283. According to the authors "the arms belong to the Amsterdam-based Snoek family and their emblem is a fish which in Dutch bears the same name. The rococo rim border is unusual and probably derives from a Dutch design". This pattern can be found on two other services, one painted in underglaze blue and white depicting various scenes of tea-production (see Howard and Ayers, China for the West, London and New York 1978, vols. I&II, no.213); the other with a Famille rose design of cockerels (see lots 59 and 60 sold in our London Rooms, 11 May 2004)