Grapes, lemons, and oranges in a Wan-li 'kraak' porselein bowl, with a plucked chicken and two hares, and two façon-de-Venise glasses on a partly draped ledge, a pewter mounted tanker and a pestle and mortar in a niche beyond

One of the most versatile artists of his day, and the pre-eminent painter of fish still lifes, Van Beyeren is also celebrated as one of the greatest masters of the pronk still life, of which the present work is an example. Born in The Hague in 1620, he first studied under his brother-in-law, Pieter de Putter, a specialist in fish still lifes. Having first become a master in The Hague in 1640, where in 1656 he helped to found the Confrerie Pictura, mounting debts forced him to move to Delft from 1657 to 1661, although he was again in The Hague between 1663 and 1669. He was then recorded in Amsterdam, Alkmaar and Gouda before settling in Overschie in 1678. Van Beyeren's pronk still lifes date from the 1650s and 1660s. These pictures generally depict a table laden with a variety of ornate glassware, gilded goblets, nautilus cups, silver dishes, Chinese porcelains, costly fruits and other delicacies, many of the objects appearing repeatedly in his paintings.

The present can be compared with the picture signed and dated 1659, offered at Christie's London on 11 December 2002, lot 71, illustrated, which provides an approximate date for the present lot.