Printed from Woolley & Wallis

Description

A CHINESE ENAMELLED AND GILT-DECORATED CHOCOLATE POT AND COVER

18TH CENTURY

The conical body gently tapering towards the top, set with a loop handle and a curved spout, painted with a large panel depicting a figure and an ox by a river, the scene surrounded by en grisaille flowers reserved on a rich gilt ground, with similar decoration to the cover, 21.5cm. (2)

Provenance: formerly the Winkworth Collection; and then the collection of Lady Kate Davson, née Kate Foster (1938-2020). Kate Davson was a prominent dealer in European ceramics. The daughter of Ludovic Foster and Pamela Wilberforce, Kate was brought up near Pulborough in Sussex and educated at Downe House School near Newbury. Kate joined Sotheby's Works of Art Department in 1959. She travelled widely for Sotheby's and set up their Munich office. In 1973, she established the firm of Kate Foster Ltd, with premises in Ryder Street, St. James's. She also founded the French Porcelain Society in 1984. Kate married Christopher Davson (1927-2004) in 1975 and later became Lady Davson in 1998, although she still liked to be known as Kate. She was proud to be the great-great-great grand-daughter of William Wilberforce and was prominent in the bicentenary celebration of Britain's abolition of the Slave Trade in 2007.