A Dutch-Decorated ‘Fine Line’ Teapot and Cover

The porcelain, Chinese, 1700-20

Finely decorated with two fighting cockerels on one side and a bird perched observing a ladybird on the other above a rabbit, interspersed with butterflies and flowering branches.

The work of this anonymous Dutch artist was first discussed in a paper that I wrote entitled ‘Dutch ‘Fine-Line’ and German Schwarzlot Decoration’ and published in the Transactions of the Oriental Ceramic Society, vol. 65, 2000-200, pp. 135-142, to coincide with the exhibition held at the British Museum on the subject of Oriental porcelain decorated in Europe.

The ‘Fine-Line’ painter is by far the most accomplished decorator of porcelain working in The Netherlands with a uniquely inventive and draughtsman-like style.

Examples of the work of this rare artist can be found in various Dutch museums and a notable group in the Porzellansammlung in the Zwinger in Dresden where they have been from the early 18th century.

We are able to date this small group to around 1724 because of a ewer made for the marriage in that year of William Butler and Maria Leeser in Amsterdam from the Watney collection illustrated in the above mentioned article.

References:
Errol Manners, ‘Dutch ‘Fine-Line’ and German Schwarzlot Decoration’, Transactions of the Oriental Ceramic Society, vol. 65, 2000-2001, pp. 135 – 142

Dimensions

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

Condition report