Two blanc de Chine Dutch-decorated beakers c.1700

Two blanc de Chine Dutch-decorated beakers c.1700, the flared octagonal forms moulded with leaf lappets, later-enamelled in the Kakiemon palette with alternate panels of birds perched on tall vases or baskets, smaller birds on perches and flowering prunus sprays, a Japanese saucer painted with the original Kakiemon design from which the beakers derive, and a rare Chinese saucer with Kakiemon decoration of two figures beside pine and peony, 11.7cm max. (4)

Provenance: the Helen Espir Collection, nos. 850, 851, 855 and 946. The beakers previously in the Rudolf Just Collection, Prague, sold at Sotheby's on 11th December 2001. Rudolf Just was the model for the main character in the novel Utz by Bruce Chatwin.

Illustrated: Helen Espir, European Decoration on Oriental Porcelain, p.84, pl.16 for the beakers and Japanese saucer.