The Helen Espir Collection - 12th November 2014
Lot 378
A Chinese porcelain Dutch-decorated rouleau vase Kangxi 1662-1722
Estimate £500 - £1,000 | Hammer £600
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Description
A Chinese porcelain Dutch-decorated rouleau vase Kangxi 1662-1722, originally decorated with an allover moulded design of lotus amidst waves, later-enamelled in Holland with a bird in flight above two deer between large branches of peony, the shoulder and neck with bands of stiff leaves in iron red, the reverse with a further bird in flight above flowers, 26.5cm.
Provenance: the Helen Espir Collection, no. 881. Purchased from Bonhams, The Watney Collection of Chinese Porcelain Decorated in Holland and England, 7th November 2003, lot 16.
Exhibited: British Museum, East Meets West, fig. 35.
Illustrated: Helen Espir, European Decoration on Oriental Porcelain, p.100, pl.32.
The lack of understanding of Chinese imagery is demonstrated here by the combination of a phoenix and crane in one bird. The deer likewise has a distinctly un-Chinese look about it.