A Dutch-decorated teapot depicting the Crucifixion of Christ.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION :

This teapot is interesting because on one side the Crucifixion of Christ is depicted, while on the other side the Instruments of the Passion are shown; they also appear on the lid. The instruments represented include the nails (often represented by three), the ladder, the centurion Longinus’s lance, the hammer, the torches or lantern of the guards, and the whips.

In Helen Espir’s book European Decoration on Oriental Porcelain (2005, p. 194), the author dates most of the religious over-decorated pieces made in the Netherlands to around the 1740s. She notes that they are either painted in a rather naïve manner or imitate the work of great masters. Most of the pieces on the market are cups and saucers, so this dutch-decorated representation on formes other than these is rare.

There are other European over-decorated religious subjects on Chinese porcelain, not only the Crucifixion — although that theme was the most common. For instance, there is a bowl with Adam and Eve, illustrated by Jorge Welsh in Imagens do Cristianismo na Porcelana da China (2003, p.88, no. 26). There are also Japanese bottles over-decorated in the Netherlands showing various scenes from the life of Christ (Helen Espir, European Decoration on Oriental Porcelain, 2005, p.195, fig.52; F. & N. Hervouët, Y. Bruneau, La porcelaine des Compagnie des Indes à décor occidental, 1986, p.403, nos. 16.145–16.151). Finally, there is an example of a reproduction of the Crucifixion after Rubens on a polychrome-enamelled saucer, as illustrated by Helen Espir (op. cit., p.198, fig.55).

BIBLIOGRAPHY :

For a similar teabowl and saucer with the same decoration, see:

– Christie’s, New York, China From China, 23 January 2019, lot 618

– Brooklyn Museum, no. 1990.145.12a-b.

– Sotheby’s, New York, 23 January 2010, lot 262

– China for the West, Vol. I, David Howard, 1978, p.318, fig.311.

– Imagens do Cristianismo na Porcelana da China, Jorge Welsh, 2003, pp.68–70, no. 19.

– From East to West: The Quest for Chinese Export Porcelain with Western Themes (1695–1815), Filomena Cunha Alves, Paulo Cunha Alves, 2016, p.113, fig.63.

For a milk jug with a similar decoration, see:

– Christie’s, New York, China From China, 23 January 2019, lot 613

– Christie’s, New York, Chinese export porcelain, 26 January 2006, lot 183

For a polychrome saucer, see:

– La porcelaine des Compagnie des Indes à décor occidental, F. & N. Hervouët, Y. Bruneau, 1986, p.401, figs 16.140 and 16.141.

– Imagens do Cristianismo na Porcelana da China, Jorge Welsh, 2003, p.73, no. 20.

For a small teapot, see:

– Bonhams, 2 September 2013, Asian Art, lot 40

PROVENANCE :

– French private collection

SOLD