A rare Chinese European-decorated export porcelain 'Clothtraders' plate, Qianlong

323
This lot was sold on 2023-06-28 and is no longer available

Dia.: 23 cm

Ref.:
- These rooms, February 11, 2017 sale, lot 239. (link) (sold EUR 14.662,50)
- Royal Museum of Art and History, Brussels, Belgium, for a similar example under inventory no. LH.0201 (link), which is also published in Dr. C.J.A. Jörg, Chine de Commande from the Royal Museum of Art and History in Brussels, pp.284-285, fig.117.
- The source for this design is an engraved copper plate in the Leiden Lakenhal museum, inventory no. 11056. (link)

Until quite recently, the design on this plate was thought to be 'unique' as mentioned in the aforementioned description, as the only known example was the one in the Royal Museum of Art and History in Brussels, Belgium, which had been donated to the museum back in 1910.

Decorated in Europe in various overglaze enamels, this plate is one of the most refined examples of Chinese export porcelain sent to Europe for a second baking round. A quay with buildings and the sails of a ship is shown in the central field, with some merchants standing on the right. On the opposite side a cloth vendor shows his merchandise, surrounded by his assistants. He's holding pieces of cloth on which the prices are written. In the middle foreground a cartouche contains a coach and a border text reading 'CARO DE ORO FABRICA DE BRUSELA'. The border is decorated with three floral sprays and on top we find the coat of arms of the city of Brussels. The central scene and the arms are painted in Europe. It's likely that these plates were ordered as gifts for clients or business associates of a merchant in Brussels camlet. This high-quality fabric was popular in the 18th C., with Brussels the major production center for this high-end textile. One of the markets for this fabric was Spain, and the Spanish inscription CARO DE ORO referred to the type of cloth as well as the golden-painted coach in which it was transported.

Condition: (UV-checked)
- Generally in very good condition, with some minor superficial crazing on the front.
- A hairline of ca. 5 cm to the rim.

品相报告:(已用紫外光线检查)
- 盘子整体品相良好,正面靠近盘口沿几处龟裂。
- 口沿一条冲线约 5 厘米。

Price incl. premium: € 11.475