Description
A rare Chinese blue and white mythological subject teapot and cover, each side painted with Dirces (Dercetis) transforming into a fish amidst reeds. The spout an 18th century silver replacement, a very fine, clean hair crack to the rim. c.1700, 20.5cm.
d The scene is after an engraving by Le Clerc. It tells the story of the beautiful Dirces (Dercetis) who aroused the jealousy of Venus by falling in love with a priest. In shame, she abandoned her daughter by him (Semiramis) and threw herself into a lake, turning into a fish.
An example is illustrated in Francois Hervouet's book "La Porcelaine des Compagnies des Indes" p. 309.
