A RARE CHINESE BLANC DE CHINE GROUP

EARLY 18TH CENTURY

Modelled with a lady playing a qin, seated at a table beside a gentleman, with an incense burner, a vase and a basket of fruit, each wear long flowing robes, the oval base modelled with a wave design, with a paper label for Spink & Son to the base, together with a wood stand, 18.5cm. (2)

Provenance: from a British private collection, purchased from Spink & Son Ltd., 30th June 1988. A copy of the invoice is available.

Cf. R Kerr and J Ayers, Blanc de Chine: Porcelain from Dehua, no.32, where the authors identify the gentleman's headdress as a type worn by opera singers during the 18th century; see also Christie's, New York, 30th March 2005, lot 376 for a similar model.