A rare pair of Chinese doucai 'Commedia dell’arte' 'South Sea Bubble' plates, Kangxi, ca. 1720

Dia.: 21 cm

Both painted with a Commedia dell'Arte figure, the one on the left bearing the inscription 'Schÿt Actien en wind-handel' (Crap shares and swindle), the one on the right 'Weg Gekke Actionisten' (Away with the crazy speculants).

Ref.:
- D. Howard and J. Ayers, China for the West, London 1978, Vol. I, pp. 234-235, for a discussion of this type of plates. The pattern and inscription satirize the financial speculation disaster in 1720 which started in England with the South Sea Company, and spread to France and Holland. The economic bubble is described and illustrated in the contemporary source 'Het groote tafereel der dwaasheid, vertoonende de opkomst, voortgang en ondergang der actie, bubbel en windnegotie, in Vrankryk, Engeland en de Nederlanden, gepleegt in den jaar MDCCXX' (The great scene of madness, ....) of 1720.
- Sotheby's, Amsterdam, March 14, 2011, for a set of four from the collection of Queen Juliana of The Netherlands. (sold EUR 35.550) (link)
- Christie's, Amsterdam, April 16, 2002, for a complete set of six plates. (sold EUR 111.250) (link)