The Helen Espir Collection - 12th November 2014
Lot 367
Two Chinese blanc de Chine European-decorated beakers Kangxi 1662-1722
Estimate £500 - £800 | Hammer £600
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Description
Two Chinese blanc de Chine European-decorated beakers Kangxi 1662-1722, each of narrow, flared octagonal form, incised with a band of petals around the foot, later enamelled in the Kakiemon palette, one with two small birds in flight between stems of flowering prunus and chrysanthemum, the other with alternating panels of single musician figures and flowering stems, faint impressed seals marks to each, 6.8cm high. (2)
Provenance: the Helen Espir Collection, nos. 724 and 723. Purchased from E & H Manners, June 1999. Previously in the Winkworth Collection.
Exhibited: Stockspring Antiques, The Dragon and the Quail, February-March 2000.
The latter beaker is believed to have been decorated in Holland prior to 1724, c.f. The Ashmolean Museum, Accession No. 1978-550 for a similarly decorated Japanese bowl from the Reitlinger Collection. Whilst originally believed to be Dutch-decorated, in recent years Helen Espir has come to question whether the similarity to contemporary decoration at the Chelsea factory might mean the first beaker was actually decorated in London.