Three Chinese porcelain Dutch-decorated bowls 1st half 18th century

Three Chinese porcelain Dutch-decorated bowls 1st half 18th century, two originally decorated with wide floral anhua bands between narrow hatched borders in underglaze blue, the last with a figure crossing an arched bridge in a landscape scene, all later-enamelled with high-handled baskets of flowers, and panels of a fisherman beside buildings, in the Dutch doré palette of red, green and gilt, 15.2cm. (3)

Provenance: the Helen Espir Collection, nos. 299, 476 and 522.

This lot provides another interesting contrast in the changing attitude of Dutch decorators as the 18th century went on. The centre of one bowl shows the later basket of flowers painted with a hollow in the top to accommodate the original central flowerhead painted to the well, while the bowl with the landscape design has completely ignored the existing decoration to create a surface which appears crowded and not thought out.