R & G McPHERSON
We are very pleased to have been invited to join Eight Days in June, an event which we have enjoyed going to since its start. As new participants dealing in oriental ceramics, we thought it would be interesting to organise an exhibition that complements the themes running through Eight Days in June. So we have spent the last year putting together our exhibits which reflect Western taste: Chinese and Japanese Export Porcelain.
Many of the pieces on offer have designs and forms based on European originals and some were even decorated in Europe. Nos. 5 a, b and c, and 7 were decorated in London, probably in the workshop of James Giles; there are also two cups with decoration attributed to James Rogers (see our online catalogue). We have a rare, apparently unrecorded, Dutch decorated bowl, no. 6. This is painted with scenes relating to weighing and taxation of butter in Holland (see our online catalogue for more information). We also include Chinese porcelain that was copied by Western potters, for example no. 13, the pair of large Blanc de Chine birds dating to the Kangxi period (1662-1722). These relate closely to an interesting English salt-glazed stoneware bird, described as a ‘Wading Bird’ and dated to c.1750-1760, (Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, Dr. J. W. L. Glaisher Bequest C812-1928).
Pieces commissioned for the West include an apparently unrecorded, ‘Sailor’s Farewell’ bowl, no. 1. This was made for the English market and bears the name ‘Elizabeth Darling’ and the date 1757 on the interior in gold. The bowl, no. 3, with black decoration showing two hands clasped under a crown, is somewhat of a mystery. Again, apparently unrecorded, the painting appears to look like an engraving. We also have a group of porcelain from the collection of Augustus II (1670-1733) King of Poland and Elector of Saxony, known as Augustus the Strong. The illustrated example, no. 10, is a pair of French-style Chinese Imari seaux à rafraîchir (wine coolers).
There are many European-subject pieces, including two unusual mid18th century blue and white beakers and saucers, with a design based on an illustration from A Compleat History of Drugs, London 1712, by Pierre Pomet, showing a pineapple and a branch of cloves.
To view these together with the whole exhibition, including extensive descriptions, references and photographs, please access our website, www.orientalceramics.com. We very much hope you can come to our shop to see the exhibition. -28-
R & G McPHERSON
1. Qianlong ‘Sailors Farewell’ Bowl Inscribed and Dated 1757 -29-
R & G McPHERSON
2. Qianlong Soft-Paste ‘Shipwreck Subject’ Tea Canister c. 1760-1770
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R & G McPHERSON
3. Qianlong Bowl c. 1760-1780
4. Qianlong Masonic Bowl c. 1790. -31-
R & G McPHERSON
5. Qianlong Tea Canister, Teapot and Jug c. 1760.
The Decoration Probably by James Giles’s Workshop c. 1760-1765.
6. Qianlong Dutch Decorated “Butter Taxing” Bowl c.1740-1760
7. Qianlong Teapot Stand c. 1770. The Decoration Probably by Giles’s Workshop c. 1770-1775 -32-
R & G McPHERSON
9. Qianlong Imari Teapot c.1760-1770
8. Qianlong Famille Rose Teapot c.1765-1780
10. Kangxi Pair of Imari Wine Coolers Purchased by Augustus the Strong in 1723 -33-
R & G McPHERSON
11. Kangxi Silver Shaped Candle Stick c. 1700-1720
12. Yongzheng or Early Qianlong Pair Candle Sticks c. 1725-1740
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R & G McPHERSON
13. Kangxi Pair of Blanc de Chine Birds c. 1690-1720
14. Kangxi or Yongzheng Pair of ‘Egg and Spinach’ Hounds c. 1700-1735 -35-
R & G McPHERSON
15.Kangxi Large Blanc de Chine Group c.1690-1710 -36-
R & G McPHERSON
16. Yongzheng or Qianlong Pair of European Subject Canton Enamel dishes c.1730-1750
17. Yongzheng Pair of Semi-Eggshell Famille Rose Teabowls and Saucers c.1730 -37-