Lot Essay
This tureen closely copies faience tureens made at the Guillebaud factory at Rouen in circa 1728, when a set was presented to the Duc de Montmorancy-Luxembourg by the city to celebrate his appointment to Governor of Normandy. A Rouen tureen, cover and stand, bearing the arms of Lambert, seigneur de Lambermont et du Buisson, is illustrated in the Répertoire de la Faience Française, Paris, 1933, vol. 4, pl. 134B. Another Rouen example is in the Musée des Beaux Arts at Rouen (see W. B. Honey, European Ceramic Art, London, 1952, pl. 88A for the stand). Although the finial is frequently referred to as a snake or serpent, it has been suggested that it actually represents an eel, which would be appropriate for French faience due to its popularity as a French gastronomic delicacy.
A very similarly decorated and modelled tureen, cover and stand to this lot is in the Musée de la Compagnie des Indes, Lorient, which was included in the exhibition Cargaisons de Chine, 26 June - 30 November 2002, catalogue no. 7. Another tureen, cover and stand of this form is in the Abbey Berne in Heeswijk, North Brabant and is illustrated by D. F. Lunsingh Scheurleer, Chinese Export Porcelain - Chine de Commande, London, 1974, colour plate C, p. 206; another was exhibited at the China Institute in America, China Trade Porcelain, 1973-4, cover and pl. 23; and a further example from the Mottahedeh Collection, without a stand, is illustrated by Howard and Ayers, China for the West, London and New York, 1978, vol.II, no. 570.
A slightly smaller famille verte tureen, cover and stand of very similar form but with a different design was sold in Christie's London, 11 May 2010, lot 284.
A very similarly decorated and modelled tureen, cover and stand to this lot is in the Musée de la Compagnie des Indes, Lorient, which was included in the exhibition Cargaisons de Chine, 26 June - 30 November 2002, catalogue no. 7. Another tureen, cover and stand of this form is in the Abbey Berne in Heeswijk, North Brabant and is illustrated by D. F. Lunsingh Scheurleer, Chinese Export Porcelain - Chine de Commande, London, 1974, colour plate C, p. 206; another was exhibited at the China Institute in America, China Trade Porcelain, 1973-4, cover and pl. 23; and a further example from the Mottahedeh Collection, without a stand, is illustrated by Howard and Ayers, China for the West, London and New York, 1978, vol.II, no. 570.
A slightly smaller famille verte tureen, cover and stand of very similar form but with a different design was sold in Christie's London, 11 May 2010, lot 284.