CIRCA 1735

Details

A Chinese verte-imari 'the Bird-Catcher' teapot and cover
Circa 1735
Of compressed globular form, decorated primarily in iron-red and gilt with details picked out in blue, green and aubergine enamels, with a European gentleman and a lady seated on a terrace with an open bird-cage, the gentleman holding a bird, two birds flying above and a fourth in the foreground, grazed chip to cover, some rubbing to gilt
9 cm. high

Special notice

Christie’s charges a premium to the buyer on the Hammer Price of each lot sold at the following rates: 29.75% of the Hammer Price of each lot up to and including €20,000, plus 23.8% of the Hammer Price between €20,001 and €800.000, plus 14.28% of any amount in excess of €800.000. Buyer’s premium is calculated on the basis of each lot individually.

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Lot Essay

According to Howard and Ayers the design on this teapot was copied from a European orginal by Pater and is commonly known as 'The Bird Seller', although the meaning of the image is more allegorical.
See Hervouët and Bruneau, La Porcelaine des Compagnies des Indes à Décor Occidental, Paris, 1986, p. 90, fig. 4.26 for a teabowl and saucer of this design.

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