18C Antique Rare Cup Saucer Chine de commande – Western Subjects Meissen Style

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Condition Report: // Overall Condition restored chip to rim and line bowl. Saucer perfect. Size

China

1750-1775

Height of teacup 43 mm (1.69 inch), diameter of rim 76 mm (2.99 inch), diameter of footring 34 mm (1.33 inch).

Height of saucer 23 mm (0.91 inch), diameter of rim 120 mm (4.72 inch), diameter of footring 72 mm (2.83 inch)

Teacup and saucer on footrings with spreading sides and rims. Decorated in various overglaze enamels, and gold after the style of Meissen porcelain with a European harbour with a large fortress, mountains houses, boats with fisherman and trees. On the quay two men hunting for ducks. On the sides and rim a decorative pattern of scrollwork. The reverse is undecorated. The teacup is decorated en suite.

Chine de commande

This French expression is used for Chinese porcelain, of which the shape and mainly the decorations are derived from Western examples. Decorations, often European prints (engravings) were cheap and easily brought along by ship to Asia. They were then meticulously copied on order in China, at first in blue and white, but very soon (from approximately 1715 onwards) also in enamel colours. This often-involved porcelain featuring family coats of arms – how fancy this looked on a dinner table – though all kinds of other depictions were also popular. Scenes from the Bible and classical antiquity, depictions of ships, harbours, landscapes as well as city views were all quite common too. Slightly erotic scenes were also much favoured. (The World at Home: Asian porcelain and Delft pottery held from 17 June 2017 to 10 March 2019 at the Groninger Museum, The Netherlands)

The design on this teacup and saucer is a direct copy from a Meissen original, including the decorative pattern of scrollwork which is typical of Meissen porcelain of the period 1720-1740. The very detailed and refined painting, so faithfully copying the original, illustrates the craftsmanship of the Chinese porcelain painter and the quality that could be reached in export porcelain. However, Chine de commande, like this must have cost a good deal more than the ordinary enamelled wares for export. (Jörg 1989/2, p.226)

For an identically decorated dish, in the collection of the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam please click here.

Overall Condition; restored chip to rim and line bowl. Saucer perfect

References:

Hervouët 1986, 15.20

Jörg 1989/2, cat. 89

The World at Home: Asian porcelain and Delft pottery held from 17 June 2017 to 10 March 2019 at the Groninger Museum, The Netherlands.