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Lot Essay
Chinese 'Provinces' dishes for the Dutch market
At least five series of dishes, plates and barber's basins were made in the 1720's in China depicting the arms of the main towns in of the United Netherlands, including those under French or Austrian control, and those of England and France. Twenty-three different arms appear to be recorded, although there is no documentary evidence to prove that each series comprised quite as many different examples, and judging by the spelling of the names, it is likely they were made to Dutch order. For a discussion on these series, see C. Le Corbeiller, China Trade Porcelain: Patterns of Exchange, New York, 1974, pp. 38 and 39, where the author explains that the grouping of this series suggests the borders of this region after the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht which ended the War of the Spanish Succession. In 1717 Triple Alliance marked the new rapport of England, France and the Netherlands, and Le Corbeiller posits that the dishes may have commemorated this development. Dr. C.J.A. Jörg notes that it is unclear why certain arms appear again and again, while other quite major centers like Haarlem and Leiden are not represented at all.
The five series are closely related in style, three series of dishes are usually distinguished: one set in the famille verte palette, one in the verte-Imari palette and one in the rose-Imari palette. Series four and five comprise the barber's basins.
The famille verte dishes are dated circa 1720, whereas the rose-Imari dishes are dated circa 1725. This slightly later dating is due to the rose enamels that were first used around that time. Interestingly, the rose-Imari dishes show a more Western approach in the decoration in the European-style architectural elements that frame the coats-of-arms.
The present collection is a beautiful representation of 'Provinces' dishes: dishes in various sizes, in the verte, the verte-Imari and one in the rose-Imari palette are included.
The dishes have been on loan to the Ceramics Museum 'Princessehof' in Leewarden, The Netherlands from 1977 to 2011.
At least five series of dishes, plates and barber's basins were made in the 1720's in China depicting the arms of the main towns in of the United Netherlands, including those under French or Austrian control, and those of England and France. Twenty-three different arms appear to be recorded, although there is no documentary evidence to prove that each series comprised quite as many different examples, and judging by the spelling of the names, it is likely they were made to Dutch order. For a discussion on these series, see C. Le Corbeiller, China Trade Porcelain: Patterns of Exchange, New York, 1974, pp. 38 and 39, where the author explains that the grouping of this series suggests the borders of this region after the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht which ended the War of the Spanish Succession. In 1717 Triple Alliance marked the new rapport of England, France and the Netherlands, and Le Corbeiller posits that the dishes may have commemorated this development. Dr. C.J.A. Jörg notes that it is unclear why certain arms appear again and again, while other quite major centers like Haarlem and Leiden are not represented at all.
The five series are closely related in style, three series of dishes are usually distinguished: one set in the famille verte palette, one in the verte-Imari palette and one in the rose-Imari palette. Series four and five comprise the barber's basins.
The famille verte dishes are dated circa 1720, whereas the rose-Imari dishes are dated circa 1725. This slightly later dating is due to the rose enamels that were first used around that time. Interestingly, the rose-Imari dishes show a more Western approach in the decoration in the European-style architectural elements that frame the coats-of-arms.
The present collection is a beautiful representation of 'Provinces' dishes: dishes in various sizes, in the verte, the verte-Imari and one in the rose-Imari palette are included.
The dishes have been on loan to the Ceramics Museum 'Princessehof' in Leewarden, The Netherlands from 1977 to 2011.