Page 10 - Bonhams Catalog Cohen and Cohen Jan 24, 2023 New York

His Majesty King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf with Asian Export Art Curator, Artists in Jingdezhen, China
Karina Corrigan at the Peabody Essex Museum. Covered punch bowl and stand,1762-3
Courtesy of the Peabody Essex Museum. Photo by Kathy Tarantola. Museum purchase, 1999 AE85710.A-C, Courtesy of the Peabody Essex
Museum. Photo by Dennis Helmar.

Rare and Important: A Half Century of Chinese Export Porcelain
Cohen and Cohen have been among the most consequential dealers European and American markets. For Americans, the most unusual
of Chinese export porcelain for five decades. My first encounter with must be the 1787-8 hong bowl (lot 59) with a pentimento of the
them was on Portobello Road in the 1980s, about ten years after their flagpole in its location prior to the move to a new hong in 1788, which
founding. They have consistently carried the finest wares representing strongly implies the bowl was commissioned before the move and
a broad spectrum of porcelain reflecting the intersection between modified to reflect the new location.
Western taste in sculptural and functional ceramics and the superlative
technology and craftsmanship of Chinese artisans. The quality and number of paired figures formed as candlesticks (lot
19, 46, 48 and 60) is extraordinary, while the figural group known as
Peripatetic dealers that they are, Michael and Ewa, have consistently the Tyrolean Dancers (lot 133) and the single large figure of a European
shown their galleries in London and at The Winter Show in New woman (lot 146) are among the most desirable figures for any museum
York, The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art, Antiques and Design Show, and or collector.
at TEFAF Maastricht. Through these multiple venues, museums and
collectors have acquired important examples of export porcelain from As an example of the splendor of Chinese enameling, a large plate
the Cohens. decorated with the famous scene of Don Quixote (lot 134) is a
testament to the craftsmanship of the artists involved, and to their
During my tenure as the H. A. Crosby Forbes Curator of Asian Export ability to respond with speed, accuracy and great artistry to orders
Art at the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) I was blessed to be able from halfway around the world. Western sources from Cornelis Pronk
to acquire major pieces. I look back now at one of my favorites, a (1691-1759; [lot 41, 44, 47, 78, 107 and 109]) and Marie Sybille
covered punch bowl with underdish decorated with the second known Merian (1647-1717; [lot 55]) are represented, as well as specific
view of the first Chinese Pavilion at Drottningholm, and the only view Western forms such as a pair of wall scones (lot 155), a monteith (lot
on porcelain. So important is the piece, that His Majesty King of 137), and pistol-handled urns.
Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf visited PEM and viewed the bowl with Karina
Corrigan, the day after I retired in May 2009. In my role as consultant After thirty-years as a curator in the field of Asian export art and
to the Asian Civilisations Museum I also participated in the acquisition thirteen years as a consultant, it gives me great pleasure, from another
from the Cohens of a massive and extremely rare porcelain fish tank vantage point, to be a small part of the continuing story of Cohen &
decorated with scenes of porcelain production, one of a pair, the other Cohen, that of helping a new generation of collectors and curators
in the Haags Gementemuseum. to acquire rare and important examples of the finest Chinese export
porcelain available.
There are equally important treasures to be found in this extraordinary
sale. Opportunities abound: from figural ceramics, armorials, and William R. Sargent
historical decorations, to the most unusual and finely decorated display Senior Consultant, Chinese Works of Art, Bonhams
and service pieces for the Portuguese, French, Dutch, and other