TWELVE CHINESE LATER-ENAMELLED BOWLS

TWELVE CHINESE LATER-ENAMELLED BOWLS
18TH CENTURY

18.7cm max. (12)

WITHOUT RESERVE
本拍品不設底價。

From the Helen Espir Collection.

Variously decorated with anhua, underglaze blue and later added European enamels, one with portrait panels of William IV, Prince of Orange; the other variously painted with landscape, hunting scenes, animals and foliate designs; nine with labels for 'Helen Espir Collection'; three with labels for Geoffrey Waters; two with labels for R&G McPherson, five have hand-written numbered 'HMEC' labels.

From the Helen Espir Collection, nos. 323, 496, 565, 602, 796, 829, 870, 885 and 908.

Published: H Espir, European Decoration on Oriental Porcelain, p.171, pl.23 for the bowl depicting William IV; p.166, pl.16 for the bowl with a stag hunt scene; p.226, pl.28, for the bowl decorated with peonies.

During the War of Austrian Succession, in April 1747, the French invaded Dutch territory. William was appointed stadtholder of Zeeland, Holland, Utrecht and Overijssel, becoming the first man to be stadtholder of all seven provinces. The Tea Party scene is also believed to be a possible allusion to William IV and Anne of Hanover in the early years of their marriage, a subject which is discussed in European Decoration on Chinese Porcelain, p.167, which also illustrates a Japanese saucer with the same pattern.