A rare Chinese porcelain Dutch-decorated South Sea Bubble saucer early 18th century

A rare Chinese porcelain Dutch-decorated South Sea Bubble saucer early 18th century, with moulded rim, enamelled in Holland c.1720 with a lady holding a spade and standing before a piece of paper on the ground, bearing the inscription 'Het is Wint', a feather falling from her left hand, the rim with flowering branches of prunus and peony, 13.5cm. Together with a British Museum photograph of a print of a pack of 18th century playing cards (see footnote). (2)

Provenance: the Helen Espir Collection, no. 873. Purchased from E & H Manners, April 2003.

Illustrated: Helen Espir, European Decoration on Oriental Porcelain, pp.155 and 156.

This satirical reference to the foolishness of investors in the South Sea Company implies that this lady's shares are as 'light as a feather', i.e. worthless. The decoration derives from a pack of playing cards published in Amsterdam in 1720, this particular lady being the Queen of Spades, depicted as Madame Quincampoix.