A Chinese porcelain English-decorated teapot and cover and two bowls 1st half 18th century

A Chinese porcelain English-decorated teapot and cover and two bowls 1st half 18th century, the teapot originally decorated in underglaze blue with flowers issuing from rockwork, later-decorated in bold enamels with flowers, finger citron and pomegranate sprays over the existing design, the bowls with simple blue borders, one decorated with butterflies and peony, the other with a broken design of flowers and flying insects between green and red borders, 17.5cm max. (4)

Provenance: the Helen Espir Collection, nos. 880, 829 and 857.

Illustrated: Stephen Hanscombe, The Early James Giles and his Contemporary London Decorators, p.51, no.13.

The teapot is decorated in the 'Limehouse' style. The cover is associated to the teapot but has been married up with it by the London decorator. One bowl bears a label for Stockspring Antiques 'Early James Giles' Exhibition, No. 13.