A Chinese porcelain Dutch-decorated plate mid 18th century

A Chinese porcelain Dutch-decorated plate mid 18th century, later-enamelled in Holland with a lady seated on a grassy mound and resting her head on her left arm, two heralding putti fly above holding long feathers above a crown and the inscription 'Ik leg op Myn arm Eens koud, Eens warm', (I lean on my arm, sometimes cold, sometimes warm), the rim with panels of birds on a hatched red and black ground, 23cm.

Provenance: the Helen Espir Collection, no. 631. Purchased from James Norbury, November 1997.

Illustrated: European Decoration on Oriental Porcelain, p.176.

The decoration on this plate refers to the Regency of Princess Anne (1751-59) following the death of William IV. Anne was an unpopular Regent and often received a cold reception at Court, which may be the meaning of the slightly ambiguous caption. The same decoration is known on plates with different captions, all referring to her insecurity and humiliation at Court.