Antique Chinese & Japanese PorcelainEuropean Ceramics & Works of Art
Pair of Chinese blue and white plates depicting the 'Sense of Smell', Kangxi (1662-1722), painted with two European couples holding leaves/flowers, the ladies with elaborate hairstyles and long flowing robes and the men in frock coats. The rim decorated with peonies and a pair of birds in flight, the base with 3 scrolling branches of peony and in the centre an Artemesia leaf in underglaze blue within a double circle.
Dimensions:
Diameter: 15.5cm. (6 1/8in.);
Condition:
One good, the other with a hairline to the base and rim, with frit and small shallow chip and minute hairline.
Notes:
The ladies are shown sporting fontanges which was a high headdress popular during the late 17th and early 18th century and was thought to be named after the Duchesse de Fontange, a mistress of King Louis XIV of France. The ‘Sense of Smell’ design is after a French engraving, L’Odorat, by the Bonnart brothers, Nicolas, Robert and Henri (1678-1700). See British Museum image id 01613672357.
Provenance:
A private English collection via a deceased Estate, Sotheby's London Tuesday 18th May, 1976, Chinese Works of Art also Ming and Ch'ing Porcelain, The Property of C. and V. Howard, Lot 154
Guest & Gray 58 Davies StreetLondonW1K 5LP
