Page 253 - Decorative Arts, Part II: Far Eastern Ceramics and Paintings, Persian and Indian Rugs and Carpets

1942.9-635-639 (C-486-490)

Garniture de cheminee

Qing dynasty, mid-eighteenth century
Porcelain with overglaze famille rose enamels,
1942.9.635: 50.8 x 25.4 (20 x 10)
1942.9.636: 50.8 x 25.4 (20 x 10)
1942.9.637: 50.8 x 25.4 (20 x 10)
1942.9.638: 34.9 x 19.1 (i33/4 x 7^2)
1942.9.639: 35.6 x 18.4 (14 x 7\4)
Widener Collection

TECHNICAL NOTES
The foot-rings of all five objects are smoothly rounded, and
both the bases and interiors are glazed. One of the beaker vases
(1942.9.639) has a chip in the lip and a long, repaired and
repainted crack in the upper side.

PROVENANCE
(Duveen Brothers, New York and London); 1942.9.635, 636, and
1
637 sold 1907,1942.9.638 and 639 sold 1915 and 1922 to Peter A.
B. Widener, Lynnewood Hall, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania; inheri-
tance from Estate of Peter A. B. Widener by gift through power
of appointment of Joseph E. Widener, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania.

T HIS GARNITURE OF FIVE PORCELAINS conforms to the
standard
in
comprising
eighteenth-century
ideal
three identical covered jars and two identical beaker
vases.2 These sets were extremely popular in Europe as
mantel decorations from the early eighteenth century
onward. The vessels of this group share a mottled rose
red ground that was blown onto the surface, probably
through a tube with gauze stretched over one end.
Isolated against this are medallions and cartouches in the
form of leaves, fans, and scrolls. These have been covered
with a transparent glaze in reserve and are painted with
landscapes, birds, and flowers in opaque famille rose

P O R C E L A I N S 237