An especially fine example in superb condition, this Chinese export porcelain tea bowl is decorated en grisaille in the “Quaker and Cow” pattern. This design has a long association with the Philadelphia Hollingsworth-Morris family, one Mary Hollingsworth Morris having sent a drawing to Canton which was interpreted onto a tea service. There are several versions of this design, this one being one of the finest quality with the hand-painted detail coming close to the precision of an engraved transfer print. The bowl measuring 2″ tall by 3 1/2″ in diameter, and in great condition. See Schiffer’s China in America, pages 172-173. Circa 1810.

Another good example from our collection of Chinese export porcelains made for the early American Market, this fine dome shouldered tea caddy is hand-painted on both sides with an image a three-masted ship, its sails furled, flying two American flags of the early republic. Measuring 4″ tall x 3″ wide and with slight crazing and a small restoration to the neck; otherwise very good condition and a fine example of an image from our early maritime history.  Circa 1800.

M

A charming pair of Chinese export porcelain 7 1/2″ plates decorated in the Sepia Fitzhugh pattern, meticulously hand-painted with a unusual floral sprigs within the central medallion. Very good condition with an Elinor Gordon provenance. Circa 1800-1820.

A rare Chinese export porcelain 7 1/4″ plate made for the American Market, decorated en grisaille with a central scene of George Washington’s Mt. Vernon, surrounded by a grisaille grapevine border with gilded details. From a tea service made for Captain Daniel Bacon of Boston and Barnstable, MA, a wealthy trader and merchant, and owner of  the renown  Game Cock, one of the fastest ships in it’s day.  The image of Mt. Vernon was taken from a period engraving, after a painting of the President’s home. The somber color scheme, part of a cult of mourning in the years following Washington’s death. The grapevine border after a popular English ceramic design of the period. Illustrated and discussed in Schiffer’s China in America, pages 168-170. Very good condition. Circa 1810-1820.   

A very handsome pair of Chinese export Kanxgi period chargers, decorated in a rich cobalt blue with central roundels of scenes of a supplicant before a nobleman or court official surrounded by attendants.  Representations of the Four Seasons emanate from the central scene in the form of peony, prunus, chrysanthemum and lotus. The rim contains a border of continuous scenes depicting figures at leisure enjoying courtly and scholarly pursuits.  The reverse of these lovely pieces are equally beautiful, decorated with continuing floral motifs both on the rim as well as the cavetto. Measuring 12 1/2″ in diameter and in very good condition with only a minor rim chip to one charger. Beautifully painted. circa 1690.

Three charming Chinese export porcelain handled cups made for the American market, each hand-painted with images of three masted ships all flying American flags. Each measuring approximately 2 1/2″ tall, the bigger one of the three with a slightly larger diameter. All bearing collection labels from Elinor Gordon, having been exhibited in the Baltimore Museum of Art.  Wonderful examples of America’s early maritime trade. Lines sealed, otherwise good condition. One of the pair of cups is sold. Circa 1800.

A very fine, and very useful, pair of Chinese export porcelain jardinieres and stands of impressive size, decorated in Famille Rose enamels, each side hand-painted with a courtly Mandarin scene within quatrefoil, circular, peach, or pomegranate-shaped  roundels, floral sprigs and border, and each jardiniere resting within a footed tray with floral branch designs. The jardinieres measuring approximately 10″ high (with their stands) and 10″ square (the opening 8 1/2″ square. Very good condition and dating to the 19th century.

A handsome pair of Chinese export porcelain 9″ soup plates decorated in a brilliant Green Fitzhugh pattern, each centered with a gilded S, from a service made for the Spooner family of Plymouth, a prominent family whose 18th century house still stands today as a museum. Very good condition. Early 19th century.

A charming 6 1/2″ Chinese export porcelain scalloped rim plate, decorated in Famille Rose enamels in the exuberant and much-sought-after Tobacco Leaf pattern.  Very good condition with only slight stacking wear. Circa 1760-1780.

This Chinese export porcelain dome-shouldered covered tea caddy is a really great form in very the popular Tobacco Leaf pattern. Hand-painted in this vibrantly colored and exuberantly designed pattern, this piece measures 5 1/2″ tall x 3 1/2″ wide and, with the exception of some restoration to the finial, is in very good condition. Dating to circa 1760-1780.

A lovely Chinese export porcelain handled cup and saucer made for the English market with a gilded spearhead border, each piece centered with a finely hand-painted Famille Rose armorial for the Rich family of Lancashire. From a service most likely made for one Major Rich who served in the military establishment of the government of Bombay (died 1759).  Illustrated and discussed in Howard’s Chinese Armorial Porcelain, Vol. II, page 300.  Extremely faint glaze line to the reverse of the saucer, otherwise great condition. The saucer measuring 4 1/2″ in diameter, the cup 2 1/2″ tall. Circa 1755.  $750.

An exquisite example of Chinese export armorial porcelain made for the English market, this lovely tea bowl and saucer are decorated in Famille Rose enamels with the elaborate Arms of Bigland quartering Errington and Barrington impaling Wilkins and Weir.  The arms represents those of Ralph Bigland (died 1784) and those of his two wives’ families, hence the very ornate image which proved a bit too much for the Chinese decorator who painted them somewhat incorrectly on the tea bowl! Illustrated and discussed in Howard’s Chinese Armorial Porcelain, Vol. I, page 508. Beautiful quality and condition. The saucer measuring 4 /12″ in diameter. Circa 1760, the year the arms were confirmed. $750.00

From a rare group of identifiable Chinese export porcelain teawares made for the American market, decorated en grisaille,  with a central image of a neoclassical urn resting upon a plinth inscribed with the monogram JB for Captain John Barton  (1774-1818) of Salem, Massachusetts. To the right, is a swagged shield bearing the image of an anchor (the sailor’s symbol of Hope) with two love birds resting upon it, a cartouche below bearing the initials of the captain’s wife LB. And to the left, most remarkably, is the partial image of his ship, flying an American flag, with the stern inscribed ARAB.  This pattern appears on other services-some bearing a British flag, some with inscribed monograms-but seldom does it ever have so much identifiable information as to the ship’s name and captain, let alone his wife. This was a very specific commission, in good condition and dating to circa 1800-1810.

A fine pair of Chinese export porcelain Rouge de Fer 11″ plates elegantly decorated with a bird perched upon a flowering branch of peony, the central scene encircled with a border of bianco-sopra-bianco decoration of peony and phoenix motifs, painstakingly carved into the porcelain when the clay is still leather-hard before firing. One plate restored, the other in good condition. Late Kangxi period, circa 1720.

A rather attractive set of Chinese export porcelain “borderless plates”, decorated in Famille Rose enamels with courtly Mandarin scenes.  Each vignette rendered across the entire surface of the plate, treating the subject more like a painting than an enclosed view as one sees on many plate designs. Each image different, with a richly enameled and detailed scene full of narrative. Measuring 7 3/4″ in diameter and in very good condition with only the slightest area of stacking wear on two of them-barely discernible-and all dating to circa 1820.

A rather fine Chinese export porcelain armorial plate hand-decorated in Famille Rose enamels with a rather unusual central diamond-form medallion with the image of a bee. The arms are those of d’Arvincourt with de Gergy accollee. The richly diapered raspberry border is broken with alternating cartouches bearing the family’s arms and crests. Measuring 9″ in diameter and in very good condition with the exception of two very small areas retouched on the rim border. Late Yongzheng/early Qianlong, circa 1737.

Another fine Mandarin plate from our collection, this 7 3/4″ Chinese export porcelain plate is hand-painted with a central scene of courtly figures chatting beneath a tree upon a garden terrace overlooking the water. The border elaborately painted with various animal and dragon vignettes. Very good condition. Circa 1820.

An attractive 7 3/4″ Chinese export porcelain plate decorated in Famille Rose enamels with a central Mandarin scene of two courtly figures meeting upon a riverbank, the border with vignettes of dragons, deer, butterflies and water fowl. Very good condition. Circa 1820.

An unusually small and very attractive Chinese export porcelain strap-handled cider jug made for the American market with a finely rendered sepia rose border, highlighted with bands of peach-colored enamel and gilding, the matching cover surmounted by a gilded foo lion. With the exception of very minor wear to the gilding the piece is in very good condition, the decoration similar to a well-known American market service made for the Van Rensselaer family of New York. Measuring 8″ tall and dating to circa 1810.

A fine Chinese export porcelain 11″ charger, decorated in underglaze blue with a central design of scrolling peonies against a blue ground, the motif continuing around the rim which is painted with lotus petal-shaped panels with flowering branches of peony and diapering along a shaped edge. With very minor frits and glaze bubbles, otherwise very good condition. The reverse with a collection sticker from The Cowperthwaite Family Trust.  Circa 1690.

A fine Chinese export porcelain 9 1/2″ dinner plate hand-decorated in the Fitzhugh pattern in the rare combination of brown and green enamels. The pattern developed into having seven basic colors of varying rarity, and then also was decorated in several unusual combinations of colors such as we have in this piece. Note the quality of the hand-painting and detail. Other than a line in the plate, it is in good condition, in a bold combination of enamels, and dates to circa 1820.

From a choice selection we have at present, this very fine Chinese export porcelain oval platter of impressive size, measuring 15″ across, is hand-painted in the exuberant Pseudo-Tobacco Leaf  with floral and foliate designs in rich enamels with gilded highlights. In very good condition and dating to circa 1760-1780.

A richly beautiful Chinese export porcelain plate decorated in the rare Raspberry Fitzhugh pattern with a gilded central landscape roundel and scrolling vine band within the cavetto. The classic Fitzhugh pattern developed seven different basic colors, and color combinations, some of them rarer than others, Raspberry being one of the rarer more sought-after shades as there were only a few services made with this enameling. Measuring 9 1/2″ in diameter and in very good condition, with a Henry Moog provenance and dating to circa 1800.

From a group of Pseudo-Tobacco Leaf porcelain we now have in our collection, this fine pair of Chinese export porcelain hand-painted 6″ plates in the exuberant Pseudo-Tobacco Leaf pattern is brilliantly enameled  with foliate and floral designs. One of several versions of the famous Tobacco Leaf pattern, these charming plates are in very good condition and date to circa 1760-1780.

A very attractive, and very useful, Chinese export porcelain octagonal form footed cachepot richly decorated with a continuous scene hand-painted around its eight sides, rendered in Famille Rose enamels, and animated with courtly figures and attendants upon a garden terrace with a lady of nobility sitting upon a root chair under a portico receiving the crowd. Measuring 6 1/2″ tall x 10″ across in very good condition. Circa 1820.

A beautiful diminutive Chinese export porcelain Kangxi period covered jar, decorated in Famille Verte enamels with four panels of flowering branches around the exterior of the body and small diapered bands around the neck and cover. Lovely quality, in very good condition and measuring 5 1/2″ tall. Ex-Chait collection provenance. Circa 1700.

From a collection we have at present, this very attractive group of four Chinese export porcelain soup plates finely hand-decorated in the exuberant Pseudo-Tobacco Leaf pattern with floral and foliate designs. Measuring 9″ in diameter, in very good condition measuring, and dating to circa 1760-1780.

A very refined pair of Chinese export porcelain soup plates, decorated in famille rose enamels with central scenes of a pair of quails beneath branches of peony, chrysanthemum, prunus and bamboo, the cavetto encircled with a yellow spearhead border, and the rim delicately hand-painted with bianco-sopra-bianco branches of flowers and bamboo, the outer edge with a band of famille rose enamel floral motifs. The quail is a symbol of strength. Measuring 9″ in diameter, nd in very good condition. Yongzheng period, circa 1730-1735.

A charming form, this Chinese export porcelain covered syllabub, or pot-de-creme, is finally hand-painted in the classic Brown Fitzhugh pattern with a central roundel bearing the initial H. From a service made for the American market and most likely ordered for prominent New Yorker John Hone (1764-1832) who was Mayor of New York during Lafayette’s visit in 1825 as well as President of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company.  Measuring 3 1/4″ tall x 3 1/2″ wide, and in good condition, with a Henry Moog provenance and dating to circa 1825.

A fine Chinese export porcelain saucer dish meticulously rendered in the Brown Fitzhugh pattern, undoubtedly from a special order service, with the central roundel bearing as yet unidentified initial B. The quality of the hand-painting is so good as to resemble transfer-printed wares. Lovely condition, measuring 8″ in diameter, with a Henry Moog provenance and dating to circa 1820.

From a collection we have at present, this fine pair of Chinese export porcelain dinner plates are meticulously hand-painted in the exuberant Pseudo-Tobacco Leaf pattern with rich foliate and floral designs. Measuring 9″ in diameter, in very good condition, and dating to circa 1760-1780.

A wonderful set of eight Chinese export porcelain Kangxi period plates, decorated in the Famille Verte palette with central images of large, flowing branches of peony, the other rim edged with a scrolling foliate design. Very slight wear in places, otherwise remarkably good condition considering their age. Measuring 8 1/2″ in diameter and dating to circa 1700-1720.

A fine example of Chinese export porcelain made for the American market, Philadelphia specifically, from a service ordered for James Large Mifflin, the well-painted Sepia Fitzhugh pattern centered with the gilded monogram of JLM. Both cups with a line, one cup and saucer with some wear to the gilding. Circa 1820.

A finely decorated Chinese export porcelain handled cup and saucer beautifully painted with Mandarin scenes in reserve against diapered ground. Very nice quality, and in good condition, the saucer 4 3/4″ in diameter. Qianlong period, circa 1770.

A Chinese export porcelain octagonal form plate richly enameled in the Famille Rose palette-the enamels ‘sitting proud’ of the surface-with the central scene of a pair of boldly colored yellow cockerels about to spar beneath a leafy tree, a peony rising from rockwork beside all the action. The border also lavishly decorated with panels of peony and prunus, scrollwork and diapered ground. A great form, fantastically decorated. Measuring 8″ in diameter, in good condition and dating to circa 1735-1745.

A very fine pair of thinly potted Chinese export porcelain plates hand-painted in underglaze blue with images of waterfowl amongst lotus, the scenes unusually unrestricted by borders and covering the entire surface of the plate. Both representative of the level of quality one can expect from the Kangxi period. One with a faint hairline from the rim, otherwise both in very good condition. Measuring 8 1/4″ in diameter. Circa 1690.

A very rare pair of Chinese export porcelain figures modeled as a pair of recumbent Spaniels, of both impressive size and provenance. The figures with their charming faces and soft mottled coats are cast in mirror images and are of larger size than one usually sees in this form. They measure 6 3/4″ tall and 10″ wide and they were used as the model for the copies in the Mottahedeh Collection, in addition to having been in the private collection of Nelson and Happy Rockefeller. Their condition is very good with only very minor losses to the tips of two paws. Qianlong period, late 18th century.

A very unusual Chinese export porcelain spoon, made for the American market, depicting a scene with Founding Fathers at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, beneath a spread eagle, taken from a Currier and Ives print, after John Trumbull’s original painting of the scene. This is from a small, rare group of Chinese export porcelain undoubtedly special-ordered, that was created sometime in the late 19th century, after the American Centennial and part of the Colonial Revival movement. Measuring 9″ long and in good condition. Discussed and illustrated in Schiffer’s China for America, page 144.

A very fine set of Chinese export porcelain figures depicting “The Eight Immortals”, a legendary group from Chinese mythology, revered by Taoists and throughout Chinese culture. Each Immortal’s power can be transferred to a vessel that can bestow life or destroy evil. The group here is depicted with a ninth character, their leader, Shou Lao, and they are all well-modeled with individual personalities and well-detailed, each holding his attribute and standing on matching plinths, all decorated in exuberant famille rose enamels. Many times these sets are made up of assembled characters, but given the consistency of design, decoration and matching plinths, we believe this to be an original complete group. In very good condition, each Immortal measuring 9″ tall and waiting to bestow life and destroy evil in your home. Last quarter of the 18th century, similar example sold in the Hodroff Collection at Christies, NY

A boldly decorated Chinese export porcelain dish charger hand-painted in deep underglaze blue with two central figures, a kylin and an elephant, beneath a tree, surrounded within an outer border of swirling dragons alternating with roundels of  four of the eight trigrams of Bagua symbolism. The trigrams are symbolic of naturally occuring processes and inter-related basic principles of reality, balance and equilibrium. Each one can be associated with a particular family member, season, personality trait, direction or animal; the three represented on this charger stand for water, lake, heaven and fire.  The reverse with floral and foliate roundels around the rim border and centered with a calligraphic mark. Measuring 13 1/4″ in diameter and with a small chip to the foot rim and some pitting and grit to the glaze all typical of a piece of this early production. A fine early example, circa 1580.

A particularly attractive Chinese export porcelain 7 3/4″ Mandarin plate decorated in Famille Rose enamels with an elegant courtly scene of figures upon a garden terrace, a lady a distinction seated in a tree root chair surrounded by her attendants. The border richly hand-painted with a swirling dragons amongst chrysanthemum blossoms, highlighted with gilding. Very good condition. Circa 1820.

A charming Chinese export porcelain square form Canton teapot decorated in underglaze blue with classic Chinese river scenes and surmounted by a stepped ‘pagoda-roof’ form finial. Measuring 4 1/4″ tall x 6 1/2″. Very good condition. Circa 1840.

A great form, this charming pair of Chinese export porcelain covered sauce tureens are vibrantly painted in famille rose enamels with courtly Mandarin scenes edged with rich flower, bird and butterfly borders, the handles and finials highlighted with gilding. Measuring 8″ x 6″ and in good condition with the exception of one handle having been restored.  Circa 1820. Always great to have a pair!

A spectacular pair of Chinese export porcelain beaker form vases of impressive size decorated in the famille verte palette with a central band of dragon roundels  edged with a lappet border all against a very finely painted peony and foliate scrolling iron red ground, the rim and foot completed with further intricate verte ground lappet borders. Very good condition considering their age, obviously much appreciated and cared for over the centuries. Measuring 17 1/2″ tall. Dating to circa 1700-1720.

A lovely 7 3/4″ Chinese export porcelain plate, decorated in Famille Rose enamels with a pair of courtly figures in a landscape, the outer border painted with vignettes of deer, dragons, waterfowl and butterflies. Very good condition, and dating to circa 1820.

From a service special-ordered for American patriot Edward Carrington, this very handsome Chinese export porcelain lighthouse form coffee pot proudly carries a hand-painted sepia rendering of an eagle derived from an early version of the Great Seal of the United States, each piece bordered with an exquisitely detailed grapevine border, most likely after English porcelains of the period.

An especially fine pair of Chinese export porcelain ‘Pronk’ baluster form vases, decorated in a soft blue with elegant renderings of fritillaria and butteflies. Measuring an impressive 12 ” tall, these elegant vases are modeled after designs by Dutch artist Cornelius Pronk who was commissioned by the Dutch East India Company to create designs for Chinese export wares in the 1740s, one of the rare instances where we can actually identify a specific European artist. Losses to some areas along the edged restored, otherwise, very good condition. Circa 1745.