Ceramics

A Chinese export porcelain shipwreck soup dish from the Hatcher Porcelain Cargoes, made in the early to mid-18th century. This Chinese porcelain soup dish was created specifically for export to the European market. It was used for soup or broth courses, which had become a dinner staple in Northern Europe following the influence of French table customs. This piece features an underglaze blue floral decoration, here comprising chrysanthemums, peonies, and a pomegranate. The floral sprigs appear to grow from a rock formation, partly obscured by the marine incrustations. On the border of the dish, three arrangements of lotuses balance the composition. The swiftness of the painter’s hand is evident in the strokes forming leaves and petals, as well as in the bleeding of some of the lighter cobalt washes coloring the flowers. Dimensions: 9 in. Dm x 1 1/4 in. H (22.9 cm Dm x 3.2 cm H) Condition: Salvaged condition. A few hairlines extending from the rim to the center, the longest about 6cm. We do not recommend cleaning or restoration, as the current condition speaks to an important stage in this object’s life. Provenance: Collection Mrs Marianne L. Dreesmann-van der Spek, Laren, inv. no J002; Collection Mrs Hetti T.G. von der Gablentz-Blanche Koelensmid, Amsterdam; Amsterdam, Christie's, The Hatcher Porcelain Cargoes, before 1987. Christie’s Amsterdam, Fine and Important Late Ming and Transitional Porcelain...

This is a Kraak or Kraak-ware Chinese Export porcelain dish or deep plate hand painted in a typical Blue and white pattern, made during the reign of Wanli (1573 to 1620). The dish is potted with a slightly everted rim with a well cut foot rim. The glaze is fairly thick with a lovely light blue tinge to it. The base of the dish displays...

This set of six blue and white Chinese porcelain dishes was hand-painted 300 years ago, circa 1700, during the Kangxi dynasty. According to Sir Harry Garner, author of Oriental Blue and White, "The Kangxi blue and white reached a technical excellence that has never been surpassed." These dishes are of the rare "double dinner" size, 11" in diameter The dishes are each hand painted in a vibrant deep cobalt blue. We see a rocky outcropping with a pair of songbirds, beautiful peonies in full bloom, and a delicate flowering plum tree. The effect is gorgeous! The crisp cobalt blue border has intricate patterning with panels showing a single peony separated by scrolling vines and floral decoration. This decorative style was especially popular during the early Kangxi period.* On the underside, the dishes have the Chinese square or "Fret" mark inside a double circle in underglaze blue. A traditional Chinese scene can be beautiful and also convey symbolic meaning. Peonies symbolize female beauty, royalty, wealth, and honor in Chinese tradition and have long been adored for their bold size and beautiful colors. The plum tree flowers early in the spring, announcing the end of winter and the rebirth of nature. Hence, it symbolizes endurance and hope. Dimensions:11" in diameter x 1" tall Condition: Excellent Price: $9,600 * Blue and white shards painted with rocks and floral subjects have been excavated from Kangxi era Jingdezhen private kiln sites and early 18th-century Chinese shipwrecks...

A massive antique stoneware storage jar (known as tsubo in Japanese) circa 16-17th century (Muromachi to early Edo period). The heavily potted jar is of a typical "medieval" form with swelled shoulder, short neck and tapered body, made for vernacular use in the kitchen. The jar is unadorned except the groove lines around the short neck and along the lower half of the body. The surface is covered with a thin glaze with black markings and runoffs resulted from the iron slip interacted with ashes in the kiln fires. Tokoname ware is one of the six ancient kilns in Japan dated to the 9th century and made in Aichi Prefecture in central Japan. Using local iron-rich clay, it is renowned for its unglazed thick-walled storage jars with a strong Mingei (folky) appeal. When the chado (tea ceremony) became highly appreciated in the 15th century during the Muromachi period, tea masters, equivalent to today's taste makers...

This pair of extraordinary chargers is hand-painted in a combination of beautifully soft and dark cobalt blue. In the center, we see a pair of splendid phoenixes, a male and a female...

18th century Chinese export Famille Verte octagonal plate, exquisitely painted with a court scene with an iron red and grisaille border.

Chinese porcelain plate, circa 1738, Qianlong Period. Hand painted in fencai enamels, with the ‘Arbor’ pattern, after a design by Dutch artist Cornelis Pronk. The central panel with...

Famille rose antique hunt bowl painted in Famille-rose overglaze enamels. Made in the Qianlong period, circa 1770. Bowl depicts a hunting scene typical of Chinese Export pottery. On the outer sides of the bowl, are scenes of hunting dogs with black and white spots preparing for a hunt. In the background are trees in green, pink and brown. As well as brown barns or hunting lodges and mountains. Throughout the outside, as well as inside, are gold swirls on a blue background. Inside, is a painted scene of a man and woman on horseback riding during the hunt. The woman wears a pink overcoat, hat and horsewhip. The man, on a gray horse, is riding in a brown overcoat and red hat with Horn and a whip. In the background is a church, mountain and floral bushes in green, red and pink. This scene is on the bottom of the bowl and surrounded by a gold swirl medallion. The base of the bowl is decorated in a gold leaf print which seems to be ferns or some other type of flora. The shape is traditional: raised on a short foot with steep sides. The top rim is in a scallop shape. Made in the Qianlong period, circa 1770. The strong color palette and rich decoration are hallmarks of Chinese export hunt...