Europe - Ceramics

Purple and yellow majolica charger with a beggar The Netherlands, 1675-1700 The charger has a wide-spreading rim and is painted mainly in purple with some yellow accents. A beggar...

This is a good Chinese porcelain plate or dish with a blue and white, hand painted river scene, which we date to the Qing dynasty, late 18th century. The dish or plate is fairly h...

Acquareccia plate Patanazzi workshop Urbino, last quarter of the 16th century It measures diameter 17.12 in; foot diameter 11.53 in; height 1.88 in (43.5 cm; 29.3 cm; 4.8 cm). Weight State of conservation: wear and a few small minimal detachments of enamel, chipping on the raised areas, peeling of enamel at the brim on the back. This large, shallow basin is equipped with a wide and convex well. It is umbonate with a contoured center. The brim, short and flat, is enclosed in a double rounded and barely raised edge. The basin has a flat base without rims; it has a slightly concave center in correspondence to the well. The shape takes inspiration from the basins associated with the metal forged amphora pourers that traditionally adorned the credenza. These were used from the Middle Ages to wash hands during banquets. Two or three people washed their hands in the same basin and it was considered an honor to wash one’s hands with an illustrious person. The decoration is arranged in concentric bands with, in the center of the umbo, an unidentified shield on a blue background: an oval banded in gold with a blue head, a gold star and a field with a burning pitcher. Rings of faux pods separate the center from a series of grotesque motifs of small birds and masks. These go around the basin and are, in fact, faithfully repeated on the brim. The main decoration develops inside the flounce of the basin, which sees alternating symmetrical figures of winged harpies and chimeras. The ornamentation, outlined in orange, green and blue, stands out against the white enamel background. This decorative style, defined since the Renaissance as “grottesche” or “raffaellesche”, refers to the decorations introduced after the discovery of the paintings of the Domus Aurea towards the end of the fifteenth century. The discovery of Nero's palace, buried inside Colle Oppio by damnatio memoriae, occurred by chance when a young Roman, in 1480, fell into a large crack which had opened in the ground on the hill, thus finding himself in a cave with walls covered with painted figures. The great artists present in the papal city, including Pinturicchio, Ghirlandaio, Raffaello, immediately visited these caves. The decorations found there soon became a decorative subject of immense success: the term grotesque , with the meaning of “unusual,” “caricatured,” or “monstrous,” was later commented by Vasari in 1550 as “una spezie di pittura licenziose e ridicole molto”( “a very licentious and ridiculous kind of painting”). The decorations “a grottesche” also widely circulated in ceramic factories, through the use of engravings, variously interpreted according to the creativity of the artists or the requests of the client. Our basin is reflected in similar artifacts produced at the end of the sixteenth century by the factories of the Urbino district. See the series of basins preserved in the main French museums, among which the closest in morphology is that of the Campana collection of the Louvre (Inv. OA1496); this however has a more complex figure decoration, while the decoration of our specimen is sober and with a watercolor style. The style, sure in its execution, approaches decorative results still close to the works produced around the middle of the sixteenth century by the Fontana workshop. The decoration is closely linked to their taste, which later finds its natural outlet, through the work of Antonio, also in the Patanazzi workshop. Studies show the contiguity between the two workshops due to the kinship and collaboration between the masters Orazio Fontana and Antonio Patanazzi, both trained in the workshop of Guido Fontana il Durantino. It is therefore almost natural that their works, often created according to similar typologies and under the aegis of the same commissions, are not always easily distinguishable, so much so that the presence of historiated or “grottesche” works by Orazio is documented and preserved in Antonio Patanazzi's workshop. Given that the studies have always emphasized the collaboration between several hands in the context of the shops, it is known that the most ancient “grottesche” works thus far known, can be dated from 1560, when the Fontana shop created the so-called Servizio Spagnolo (Spanish Service) and how, from that moment on, this ornamentation became one of the most requested by high-ranking clients. We remember the works created for the Granduchi di Toscana, when Flaminio Fontana along with his uncle Orazio supplied ceramics to Florence, and, later, other commissions of considerable importance: those for the service of the Duchi d’Este or for the Messina Farmacia of Roccavaldina, associated with the Patanazzi workshop when, now after 1580, Antonio Patanazzi began to sign his own work. Thus, in our basin, the presence of masks hanging from garlands, a theme of more ancient memory, is associated in the work with more advanced stylistic motifs, such as the hatching of the chimeras and harpies. These are found here on the front with the wings painted in two ornate ways. In addition, the theme of the birds on the edge completes the decoration along the thin brim and can be seen as representing an early style typical of the Urbino district during a period of activity and collaboration between the two workshops. Later, a more “doll-like” decorative choice, typical of the end of the century and the beginning of the seventeenth century, characterized the period of the Patanazzi workshop under the direction of Francesco. Bibliography: Philippe Morel, Il funzionamento simbolico e la critica delle grottesche nella seconda metà del Cinquecento, in: Marcello Fagiolo, (a cura di), Roma e...

Blue and white landscape dish. Makkum, 1775-1800 Tichelaar pottery. painter: Douwe Klases Hofstra [attributed to] The dish has a wide and raised flange and is painted in blue w...

Blue and white chinoiserie lobed dish. Delft, 1650-1680 Dimensions: diameter 33,5 cm / 13.18 in. The blue and white lobed dish is composed of twenty-s...

Large blue and white chinoiserie dish. The Netherlands, 1675-1700. The blue and white dish has a wide-spreading flange and is painted in the centre with a sitting Chinese figure i...

Blue and white lobed dish with fruit still life. Northern Netherlands, 1650-1680 Dimensions: Diameter 22,9 cm / 9.01 in. The blue and white lobed dish is composed of sixteen smal...

Two maiolica flower pots Antonio Ferretti Manufacture Lodi, Circa 1770 - 1780 Maiolica polychrome decorated “a piccolo fuoco” (third fire) The...

This is a rare porcelain desert dish or chestnut basket made by the Chelsea-Derby factory during the 18th Century, circa 1770. This pierced, reticulated Desert Dish or Chestnut Ba...

A coffee pot and two cups with saucers Antonio Ferretti Manufacture Lodi, Circa 1765-1770 Maiolica polychrome decorated “a piccolo fuoco” (third fire). They measure: coffee pot: 9....

Italian Maiolica Crespina a Compendiario style, Central Italy, Late 17th century This Crispina has a convex shape on the front and a concave shape on the back, resting on a small ...

Blue and white charger with a shepherd in a landscape Delft, 1670-1700 The charger has a wide-spreading flange and is painted in blue with a shepherd in a water landscape. He we...

This is a beautifully hand-painted Chinese porcelain blue and white large plate from the Qing, Kangxi period, 1662-1722. The plate is finely potted with a carefully cut base rim a...

Blue and yellow chinoiserie lobed dish. Delft, 1680-1700 Dimensions: diameter 33,2 cm / 13.07 in. The blue and yellow lobed dish is c...

This is a very fine hard paste porcelain Tea Bowl and Saucer by New Hall, dating to the 18th century, George 111rd period, circa 1785. Both pieces have 24 vertical flutes. Both pie...

Chinoiserie lobed dish in blue, yellow and purple. Delft, 1680-1690 Dimensions: diameter 34 cm / 13.58 in. The lobed dish is composed of nine, wide lobes around a nine-fold cent...

Rare Two Cut Out Plates. Chinese, 17th century in cloisonné enamelled metal, decorated with floral motifs with a reserve in the center with an oriental landscape representing fig...

Blue and yellow bowl with putto Delft, circa 1690. The wide and flat bowl has a turned rim and is painted in blue with yellow accents. A dancin...

Polychrome lobed dish with peacock and tulips. Delft, circa 1690. Dimensions: diameter 33,5 cm / 13.18 in. The polychrome lobed dish is composed of twenty-seven double lobes and ...

Polychrome dish with a village view The Netherlands, 1675-1725. The dish has a spreading, slightly raised flange and is painted in blue, purple and yellow with a simplified villag...

Large Blue and white charger with landscape The Netherlands, circa 1660 The charger has a wide, spreading flange and is painted in b...

Large Chinese ceramic plate. Swatow, Ming Dynasty.

This is a hard paste porcelain Tea Bowl and Saucer by New Hall, dating to the turn of the 18th century, George 111rd period, circa 1800. Both pieces are decorated over-glaze with ...

Blue and white dish with bird on a double ring Delft or Western-Netherlands, 1700-1750 Blue and white dish with a wide-spreading flange, painted in the centre with a bird on a double ring with leafy garlands. The decor on the flange is made up of a small band of scrolls and stylized leaves, framed within lines. The well halfway to the rim is left unpainted. Three stilt marks, which are characteristic for majolica, are visible in the centre. Dimensions: Diameter 31,5 cm / 12.40 in. The decor of a parrot on a ring is a well-known motif on plates and dishes...

Composition of 16 tiles with angel Portugal 18th century. Composition made in the late 20th century.

This is a rare coffee cup and saucer in ‘The Traveller’ or ‘One Legged Duck’ blue transfer printed, hand gilded pattern by John Turner & family, of Lane End, Longton, Staffordshire. ...

Lobed dish with purple and yellow chinoiserie landscape Delft, 1680-1700 Dimensions: diameter 22 cm / 8.66 in. The lobed dish is composed of ...

Purple and yellow chinoiserie lobed dish. Delft, 1680-1690 Dimensions: diameter 34,5 cm / 13.58 in. The lobed dish is composed of eight wide lobes and...

This is a hard paste porcelain coffee cup, by New Hall, dating to the late 18th century George 111rd period, circa 1790. The piece is well potted on a low foot with a plain loop h...

This is a hard paste porcelain coffee can & saucer duo by New Hall, hand decorated with their Chinese figure pattern number 421, dating to the English George 3rd...

This is a good porcelain TRIO of a Tea Cup, Coffee Cup and saucer by the Derby factory, made during the George 111rd period, circa 1795. The pieces are well potted in the Hamilton...

This is a beautifully hand-painted Chinese porcelain Dish, dating to the middle of the 18th century, Qing, Qianlong period, circa 1750. The dish is circular, well potted, with rib...

This is a good Chinese porcelain circular Platter or large plate, made for the export (Canton) market, during the middle of the 18th century, Qing-Qianlong period. The plate is we...

Polychrome chinoiserie lobed dish. Delft, 1680-1690 The lobed dish is composed of nine wide lobes around a nine-fold centre and is painted with a chinoiserie decor in purple, yellow and green. Two Chinese figures in an eastern landscape are depicted in the centre, one of them carries a banner. The landscape is framed within lines and a white band. The border is decorated with a continuous landscape with two reclining and two standing Chinese figures. A lobed dish of the same shape and design in purple, blue and green is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts holds a variant in blue and yellow. In the same museum are three lobed dishes, each with twenty-seven double lobes with chinoiserie landscapes in the same colour scheme of purple, yellow and green. In the second half of the seventeenth century many lobed dishes were painted with Chinese motifs, mostly landscapes with Chinese figures. The vast majority are in blue. Two- or multi-coloured chinoiserie decorations were very fashionable during a short period of time, predominantly in the 1680s. In addition to lobed dishes, they also appear on wine jugs, beer mugs, butter pots, covered spiced-wine bowls and dishes. Some of this Delftware is still wrongly attributed to a factory in the German town of Frankfurt, and sometimes it is even considered to be English. An excavated chinoiserie butter pot in purple, green and yellow, found in a cesspit in the grounds of the Porcelain Bottle factory, proves otherwise. A beer mug with the portrait of the Dutch prince Willem III...

An extremely rare pair of Chinese export porcelain ‘Table Bay’ or 'Cape of Good Hope' dishes Qianlong period, mid-18th century Measure: Diameter. 23.8 ...

This is a very good Chinese porcelain large plate, made for the export (Canton) market, during the middle of the 18th century, Qing-Qianl...

Blue and white lobed dish with shepherd. Northern Netherlands, 1650-1680. Dimensions: diameter 33,5 cm / 13.18 in. The blue and white dish is composed of twenty-seven double lo...

This is a very good early Chinese Teapot and matching cover from the Qing Dynasty, Kangxi period ( 1662 to 1722) which we date to Circa 1710. The teapot has a globular form on a sho...

This is a hard paste porcelain coffee Can by New Hall, dating to the turn of the 18th century, George 111rd period, circa 1800. The piece is well potted of hard paste porcelain on a low foot with a loop handle having rounded attachments. The cup is decorated over-glaze with hand painted pattern...

Scandinavian green ceramic bowl serie Aluminia Marselis designed by Nils Thorsson for Royal Copenaghen, Denmark, 1950s.

This is a very beautifully hand painted Chinese porcelain blue and white Dish or Plate from the Qing, Kangxi period ( 1662-1722), dating to Circa 1680 or slightly earlier This is a well potted dish with 16 lobes or ribs, a wavy barbed rim, a very well cut foot rim and a very white glaze. The plate is very finely hand painted in a free flowing style, characteristic of the period, in varying shades of a clear cobalt blue, from the very dark to the very light blue. The central well is hand decorated with an iconic outdoor...

Pair of Chinese plates with floral motifs from the Compagnie des Indes dating from the 18th century. It is decorated in the centre with a flower...

This is a beautiful hand painted blue and white Chinese porcelain large diameter deep plate or charger, dating to the first half of the 18th century, circa 1720, Qing dynasty, either...

Maiolica flower pot “a mezzaluna” decorated with trompe l’oeil Pasquale Rubati Factory Milan, 1770 circa It measures: 4.7 in (cm 12) X 5 in (...

Beautiful small white porcelain plate decorated with different flowers such as petunias and phlox. Leaves seem to fly. A small plum is hidden on the back of the plate. We discover a work of extreme finesse. The lines are very fine and delicate. The arrival of porcelain in Europe was linked to the development of shipping and international trade. Porcelain was very popular in Europe because of its lightness and durability. The importation from China is linked to the lack of mastery of this technique by the Europeans. The French, Dutch and British East India...

A very fine antique Chinese Qing large porcelain cylindrical mug hand painted with floral designs and probably dating from the latter 18th or possibly even early 19th century. The mu...

This is a fine quality Derby porcelain bowl in pattern number 110, fully marked with puce crown & battons and dating to 11790, George 111rd period. It is beautifully decorated in ...

A 6 antique earthenware tiles set evoking a delicate sun-shaped figure surrounded by abstract shapes. A beautiful decorative set that can be used on a chimney or a wall - one of many...

18th century Portuguese "Vase" Measures: 154cm x 140cm 110 tiles Important note: This panel is with the tiles restored 17th century. The panel is delivered as if it were a pai...

Set of beautiful moulded tiles made of earthenware. Featuring flowerheads and foliage, this set of antiques creates a universe on its own.

18th century Portuguese "Troubadour" Measures: 252cm x 86 cm 108 tiles Important note: This panel is with the tiles restored 18th century. The panel is delivered as if it were...

Pair of Delft calendar plates in blue and white garden scenarie. March and April plates. These two plates were part of a 12 plate series of calen...

Maiolica plate (tondino) Urbino district, Casteldurante or Pesaro, 1533-1555 It measures: diam. 7.48 in (19 cm), foot diam. 2.75 in (7 cm), height 1.0...

This is a hard paste porcelain waste or slop bowl by New Hall in a hand painted Chinoiserie figure pattern No. 20, dating to the late 18th century, circa 1790. The bowl is well potted on a mid depth foot. The decoration is hand-painted using bold enamels in a charming chinoiserie figure pattern, number 20, showing a Lady with a parasol being presented a flower by a young man, all by a fence in a garden setting. The inner rim has a repeated border pattern and the inside base has a hand painted flower bud sprig which is worn and faded. This is a recorded New Hall pattern No 20. Overall a charming 18th Century Bowl...

18th century Portuguese "Vases" Measures: 312 cm x 210 cm Important note: This panel is with the tiles restored 18th century. The panel is delivered as if it were a painting ...

18th Century Portuguese " Angels " Measures: 84 cm x 70 cm 30 Tiles. Important note: This panel is with the tiles restored 18th century. The panel is delivered as if it were a...

Sick cup Pasquale Rubati Manufacture Milan, Circa 1770 - 1780 Maiolica decorated in polychrome “a piccolo fuoco” (third fire) It measures: h 2.36 x 7.4 x 7.87 (h 6 x 19 x 20 cm) ...

Assortment of dishes Lombard manufacture 1770 – 1780 Circa Maiolica polychrome decorated “a piccolo fuoco” (third fire). Two large dishes: diameter 14.76 in (37.5 cm); weight 4.5...