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Description
Chinese Export Porcelain Armorial Tankard (Circa 1780)
This Chinese Export porcelain large armorial tankard, dating to approximately 1780, is a …
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Chinese Export Porcelain Armorial Tankard (Circa 1780)
This Chinese Export porcelain large armorial tankard, dating to approximately 1780, is a high-status piece commissioned for a specific European or American family.
The cylindrical body, tapering toward the foot, features a central coat of arms painted in vibrant enamels, indicating a bespoke order. The decoration is executed primarily in the Famille Rose palette with extensive use of gilding.
Key decorative features include:
A wide, richly gilt Rococo band around the rim, overlaid with Famille Rose flowers and scrolls.
A large gray wash cornucopia overflowing with colorful floral arrangements on the sides.
A gilt Greek key border on an iron-red ground encircles the foot.
Dimensions: 5 1/4 inches high × 6 inches wide×4 1/4inches deep (13.34cm high x 15.24cm wide x 10.80cm deep).
Condition: Good. No cracks or repairs. Minor rubbing to the gilt on the upper band and an old firing line near the handle's base.
Provenance: A Private Georgia Collection; Sarah Potter Conover, Inc.
Historical Context: Bespoke Trade Ceramics
This tankard exemplifies the Chinese Export porcelain trade at its peak in the late 18th century. Wealthy Western clients commissioned ceramics from the workshops of Jingdezhen, China, specifically requesting the inclusion of their family coat of arms (armorial).
Custom Luxury Goods
The tankard was shipped from Canton (Guangzhou) after a detailed, custom-order process. Patrons provided sketches of their heraldry, which Chinese artists then meticulously executed on the porcelain using the colorful, opaque Famille Rose enamels.
The blending of the precise, formal European heraldry with the fashionable Rococo elements (such as the scrollwork border) showcases a unique artistic convergence. Owning armorial porcelain was a powerful statement of wealth, status, and participation in global commerce. The high quality of the porcelain and the vibrant enamels ensured these objects were highly valued and displayed by the elite of the period.
(Ref: NY10536A-limx)
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- Dimensions
- 6ʺW × 5.25ʺD × 4.25ʺH
- Styles
- Chinese
- Period
- Late 18th Century
- Country of Origin
- China
- Item Type
- Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned
- Materials
- Porcelain
- Condition
- Good Condition, Original Condition Unaltered, Some Imperfections
- Color
- White
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