Antique Chinese Porcelain Amsterdam Bont Decorated Plate, 18th Century

A very nicely made pair of two 18th century Amsterdam Bont porcelain dishes. Most probably Qianlong period blue and white dishes with Amsterdam bont over-decoration of flowers, quails and parrrots. Truly museum pieces. We take a look at Amsterdams Bont porcelain from China. A relatively unknown niche of Chinese porcelain from ca 1680-1740 that was partly decorated in Europe. Because mainstream Chinese collectors have yet to discover the historical significance of these wares they are relatively easy to find in Holland. While also being highly interesting and of often super quality and with an amazing array of decorations. Amsterdams Bont is a name given to porcelain partly decorated in the Netherlands (most likely in cities like Delft, Haarlem, Makkum). Because Amsterdam was at this moment in time the trade centre of the western world and also of the porcelain trade a lot of this over enamelling was probably commissioned by Amsterdam merchants, to reap higher profits on otherwise boring Chinese wares. The name Amsterdam Bont probably derives from the fact that these type of decorated ware was sold by Amsterdam Merchants. Amsterdam Bont consists of either blanc or under glaze blue decorated Chinese porcelain of basic quality, that was later enhanced with red and sometimes other colours in the Netherlands. It must not be mistaken for other type of Chinese & Japanese blanc wares decorated in Europe. Those we simply call European Decorated Chinese porcelain. Amsterdam Bont really is easily recognisable by its colour and style. An interesting side note is that a similar process of overdecorating with red was done in London in more or less the same colours. Method of manufacturing. This enhancemend was done on “petit feux” or small fire at a lower temperature. This technique of baking enamels on a lower temperature that was perfected in the Delft around 1670-1680 to compete with the colourfull Japanese porcelain of the time. At the turn of the 17th c Chinese porcelain...

Unusual Dutch Decorated Kakiemon Style deep dish. The dish itself is a white porcelain plate from the Kangxi period, ca 1700-1720. The painting is Dutch Enamelling from ca 1710-1725. Visisble is a scene in what seems to be a garden of a pagode house depicting a Lady with a Man listening to a Nightingales singing, with a Bird Cage nearby. It's a well known example of the original version of a pattern which is used at the Bows and Chelsea factories in England in the 1750's where it is know as the 'Lady' and 'Old lady pattern' and which was also copied on oriental porcelain in Holland around 1720. The piece is unmarked. References / Robert McPherson Oriental ceramics writes For an octagonal Kakiemon beaker and saucer of this design from The Burghley House Collection see : Porcelain for Palaces, The Fashion for Japan in Europe 1650 - 1750 (Various authors, The Oriental Ceramic Society,1990. ISBN 0-903421-24-0) page 155, plate 127, for a Chelsea example of this Kakiemon pattern see 328 and for the Bow porcelain version see 327. Helen Espir illustrates the Burghley example mentioned above two illustrated it`s connection with two Dutch decorated blanc de chine beakers and a Japanese saucer...

Quality 18th Century Chinese plate having a quality 18th century Chinese plate decorated to the centre with houses and trees and the outer panel with flow...

Chinese Export Famille Rose porcelain bowl with Chinese "Antiques" & Scholar's items on Furniture, Qianlong Period, circa 1735-1740. The Chinese Export porcelain bowl is finely painted inside and out with famille rose enamels. On the front is a depiction of an unusual grouping of Chinese domestic...