Chinese famille rose Pronk 'Arbor' plate, Qianlong (1736-95), decorated in the centre with a topiary garden scene, with a central couple in flowing robes underneath a topiary arch, four children playing around them and a duck pond in the foreground, the wide rim with twelve shaped cartouches containing moths, butterflies, flowers and fruit against a geometric green ground with shells and fleurs-de-lis, the reverse with iron-red and purple lambrequin border
Dimensions:
Diameter: 26cm. (10.2in.)
Condition:
Usual slight wear to enamels
Notes:
Cornelis Pronk (1691-1754) was commissioned by the VOC to produce designs for Chinese porcelain. Jorg has identified the arbor scene as the Pronk's fourth and last design (drawn in 1737) for the VOC. Due to the high cost of producing such designs in coloured enamels, Jorg estimates that only three large dinner services of this design may have been produced. For further information see: C.J.A. Jorg, 'Pronk porcelain: Porcelain after designs by Cornelis Pronk', pp. 36-37. For a plate with the same design see the MET Museum Collection, Accession number: 1984.224.