Two Chinese porcelain Dutch-decorated plates 1st half 18th century

Two Chinese porcelain Dutch-decorated plates 1st half 18th century, one with original anhua decoration of a central flowerhead, over-enamelled in Holland in the Imari style with a central vase of flowers between red and black floral panels and further sprays of Oriental flowers in the Delft manner, the other a large saucer dish with a central prunus branch within four other flowering sprays, the later-enamelling highlighting the original decoration in polychrome enamels and with the addition of four lang Elizen, each holding a flower aloft, and a bowl similarly decorated with four original sprays of fruiting pomegranate, now enamelled with four polychrome figures between and a small bird perched in the branches, the interior with three birds in flight , 27cm max. (3)

Provenance: the Helen Espir Collection, nos. 627, 808 and 446.

Illustrated: Helen Espir, European Decoration on Oriental Porcelain, p.77, pl.6.

The Dutch decoration appears to have been added in the 1730s, and the bowl and saucer dish in particular are good examples of the early style of sympathetic addition of colour to the original Chinese decoration.