A Rare Blue and White Chinese Export Porcelain Monteith, Qing Dynasty, Kangxi Period (1662 - 1722)

Based on a European silver shape, designed for rinsing glasses, vividly painted in underglaze-blue with eight octagonal panels containing two kylins, a pheasant, a winged tiger, a crane, and a song bird with prunus blossom, all reserved against a stylised ground of lotus and chrysanthemum flower heads, beneath a crenelated rim, glazed in brown, the interior painted with a central cartouche containing 'One hundred antiques' , the rim divided with a further eight objects, including baskets of peaches, a bronze 'gu' vase, and porcelain vases, the base with a double-circled floral sprig.

The design for such bowls, used for rinsing wine glasses became popular in the late 17th Century and were made in silver, glass and tin-glazed earthenware. The Monteith derives its name from an eccentric Scotsman, 'Monsieur Monteigh', who at the time 'wore his cloake…. so notched'.

Provenance: Applied gold label for Jas. A. Lewis, 57 EAST 57th Street, New York

Literature: Other Kangxi 'famille-verte' monteiths maybe found in Royal Collections, including Her Majesty the Queen, illustrated and discussed by J.Ayers, 2016, Chinese and Japanese Works of Art in the Collection of Her Majesty the Queen. Volume I, p. 237, cat no. 5

Condition: Some minor rim frits, otherwise in excellent condition

Collections: The present blue and white bowl, is a rare survivor of such domestic table wares, and the pair to it, with identical decoration, is in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, Museum number: 564-1907.

Price on application

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

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