A pair of Famille Verte saucers decorated with floral scrolls and flying birds.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION :

This “G” mark appears on several porcelains from the late 17th century andsystematically during the Kangxi period. It has been suggested that this mark belonged to a Dutch dealer, who would affix his “seal” to the porcelains he commissioned, like initials. In the book Chinese Ceramics in the Collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam: The Ming and Qing Dynasties, on p.259, this theory is supported. The author, Christiaan Jörg, draws an analogy between this mark and late 17th century Japanese apothecary bottles bearing initials within a circle on their body.

This mark is found on a fairly limited number of objects, but often of high quality — in particular a large teapot, blue and white and Famille Verte bottle vases, high-neck Famille Verte vases with women, as well as cups and saucers like those presented here. These types of objects were regularly intended for European export, particularly for the Dutch market, and are consistently decorated in either blue and white or Famille Verte.

BIBLIOGRAPHY :

For a Famille Verte piece with the same mark, see:

– Rijksmuseum, Netherlands, inv. no. AK‑RBK‑16340‑A.

– Groninger Museum, Netherlands, inv. no. 1899.0042 (Famille Verte Chinese Porcelain in Green Enamels, Christiaan J.A. Jörg, 2011, p.132, fig.120).

PROVENANCE :

– Private French collection

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