Page 533 - Chinese Porcelain Vol II, Galland

FOREIGN DESIGNS. 467

"
I have been to the British Museum to and find out
try
something about the wedding plate. They have a similar one
there, but the painting on it is not so carefully done.
"They cannot identify the arms, but I gave them the
extra details shown on and
your plate, they may try again.
"
The do not know the but think
print-room people print,
the date is about William III.
probably
"The round the arch should be SEMPEE AMOR PEG
writing
TE FIRMISSIMVS ATQVE FiDELis ' Ever love for thee most
(
steadfast and faithful
').
"
The arms on the left are probably those of some noble of
the
Empire.
"The number of the in the Franks collection is
plate
591.
"
The motto under the arms is NVLLVS VOLAT ALTIVS ALES
No bird flies
(' higher ')."
The decoration may be a copy of a print belonging to about
the period of William and Mary, but they occupied the English
throne the middle of the of
during period reign Kang-he,
while the itself is of much later date. Mr. C. F.
plate certainly
"
Bell writes : Call it Louis XIV. This covers a larger period ;
besides, it is of course of Continental origin."
In No. 819 we have another of how
example successfully
the Chinese could This dessert-
copy European drawings.
9 inches 1 inch
plate (diameter, ; height, ; no mark, gilt edge)
is decorated in colours with what are known as Watteau
bright
A is seated a cask, while
figures. gentleman with a guitar by
a seem about to dance to his music. The land-
young couple
is in and bistre. The various bands are in black
scape sepia
and gilt ; the decoration on the rim in bright enamels and
European in design.
Antoine Watteau lived 1684-1721, but this seems to
plate
be some later than the last date. Mr. C. F. Bell
fifty years
"
writes : The so-called Watteau are no doubt taken
figures
from some of his or one of his followers."
composition
Nos. 820, 821, 822. A bowl. Diameter, 15
semi-spherical
inches ; height, 6^ inches. No mark. Brown edge, originally
covered with Inside, near the there is a scroll band
gilt. edge,
in bluish At bottom three in red water
pink. gold-fish among
plants in sepia, with two flies in brown, as if they had been