Chinese Export Porcelain Set of Graduated Famille Rose Tankards

Details

Description

Neoclassicism in Canton: Graduated Famille Rose Tankards

Origin: Jingdezhen, China (for the European market) Period: Qianlong (c. 1780)

This set … Read more Neoclassicism in Canton: Graduated Famille Rose Tankards

Origin: Jingdezhen, China (for the European market) Period: Qianlong (c. 1780)

This set of graduated tankards, or mugs as they were known in the 18th century, perfectly illustrates the shift in European tastes toward the Neoclassical style. Produced in China specifically for export, these pieces show the remarkable adaptability of Chinese artisans to foreign design demands.

The body of each tankard is decorated in the Famille Rose palette, featuring soft, opaque enamels, with a central motif of a classic Neoclassic Urn overflowing with pink and purple flowers. This urn design, enclosed within a delicate green enamel circle, was a popular European motif associated with classical antiquity and refined elegance.

Design and Form

• Graduation: The mugs are designed in a graduated set, signifying their use as specialized drinking vessels, likely used for different volumes of punch or ale, reinforcing the structured nature of 18th-century dining.

• Border: The upper rim features a rich, encircling gilt diaper band interwoven with floral swags, providing a contrast between geometric precision and organic naturalism.

• Handles: The handles are distinctive, featuring a double-loop design that terminates in large, molded floral clusters, adding a textural, three-dimensional element to the smooth porcelain body.

• Decoration: Beyond the central urn, circular groupings of fruit and flowers on the sides provide additional decorative elements, emphasizing abundance and hospitality.

Dimensions: Smallest: 4 3/4 inches high x 6 inches wide x 3 3/4 inches deep, Center: 5 1/2 inches x 6 inches wide x 4 1/4 inches deep and Largest: 6 1/4 inches high x 7 inches wide x 4 3/4 inches deep
(12.07cm high x 13.97 diameter x 15.88cm wide)

References
This style of porcelain, combining the Chinese Famille Rose palette with Western Neoclassical motifs, is well-represented in specialist literature and public collections focusing on 18th-century Chinese Export wares.

• Public Collections: Examples of graduated tankard sets and Neoclassical-themed export porcelain are held at institutions such as the Peabody Essex Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A).

• Specialist Literature:
o Palmer, Arlene M., A Winterthur Guide to Chinese Export Porcelain (for dating and forms).
o Sargeant, William R., Chinese Export Art at the Peabody Essex Museum (for context on forms made for the American and European markets).
o Howard, David S., The Choice of the Private Trader: The Private Market in Chinese Export Porcelain Illustrated in the Hong Kong Teahouse Collection (for examples of private commissions and forms like tankards).

(Ref: NY10091-nrpc) See less