Page 201 - Sothebys Speelman Gems of Chinese Art

These rare and vibrantly painted dishes formed 1978, cat. no. 41, where it is noted that they were
part of a group of four from the esteemed probably made for the Palace (p. 40).
collection of Mr and Mrs Alfred Clark. The other
Wares that combine a finely-enamelled
two dishes are painted with three pomegranates
auspicious motif on the interior and a vibrant
amongst sprays of peonies and daisies, and
pink-ground exterior, which was also produced in
plums amongst floral sprays, and were also
porcelain, celebrate the newly developed famille-
included in the International Exhibition of
rose palette of the early eighteenth century.
Chinese Art, Royal Academy of Arts, London,
Painting in enamels on a metal body is essentially
1935, cat. no. 2193, and sold at Christie’s
a Western technique that gained prominence
South Kensington, 20th June 2002, lots 372
in Europe during the Renaissance and was first
and 374 respectively. This group combines
introduced to Guangzhou by Jesuit missionaries
quintessentially Chinese subjects with a
who entered the port with samples of Limoges
European technique. The fusion of East with
wares from Europe. The technique was then
West continues in the style of painting, where the
presented to the Palace Workshop around 1714-
Chinese tradition of outlining has been combined
1716 by the enamel factories in Guangzhou,
with the European pursuit of naturalism through
who supplied versatile artisans dedicated to
shading.
developing and improving the standard of the
Compare another pair of dishes of this type, imperial Enamel Workshop (see Yang Boda in
one painted with various flower sprays and the the catalogue to the exhibition Tributes from
other with lychee and flowers, in the Ashmolean Guangzhou to the Qing Court, Art Gallery, The
Museum, Oxford, included in the Museum’s Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong,
exhibition Chinese Painted Enamel, Oxford, 1987, p. 63).

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