A FAMILLE NOIRE TEABOWL AND SAUCER KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)...

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Hammer

£700

Fees

A FAMILLE NOIRE TEABOWL AND SAUCER
KANGXI PERIOD (1662-1722)
康熙墨彩花卉紋杯碟一組
the teabowl is enamelled to the interior with birds, insects, flowers and rockwork all within petal-shaped lappets and around a central flower-head medallion – all of which are reserved on a tomato-red ground. The exterior of the bowl is designed with both birds and prunus on a black ground.

The saucer, with both similar lappets and medallions as the bowl, is reserved on a yellow ground, with the underside having four prunus branches on a black ground. The base has under glaze blue lingzhi marks within double circles.
Diameter of saucer: 13.6 cm

NOTE: Black glazes were created by adding iron oxide to a glaze containing lead, which produced a glaze of intense black with a green gleam as a result of the process of oxidisation caused by adding oxygen during firing. The black glaze had already been developed in Jingdezhen in the middle of the fifteenth century but disappeared until the late seventeenth century and was rediscovered around 1700. In the Kangxi period a coating in several layers made by applying an additional layer of green glaze under and over the iron black parts was used for the “famille noire” glazes.

PROVENANCE: Acquired From Christie’s King Street, “Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art: Including Export Art”, 7 November 2007, Lot 220.

The Hon. Mrs Nellie Ionides (1883 - 1962) , No 119 and then by descent.

Daughter of a very wealthy Jewish and cultured family. Her grandfather, Marcus Samuel, launched his family fortunes by starting a business involving the sale of exotic Eastern oriental seashells and trinket boxes to wealthy Victorians.

In 1902 she married her first husband Walter Levy in a society wedding but unfortunately he died in 1923 from severe wounds suffered in the First World War. It is at this stage that Nellie became a collector of porcelain and her artistic passion brought her into contact with Basil Ionides, a grandson of the Greek ambassador to London.

Nellie and Basil Ionides were married in 1930. The newlyweds now acquired and renovated Buxted Park in Sussex, where they entertained lavishly - their guests included George V and Queen Mary, a great friend of Nellie.

RELATED EXAMPLE: For a similar famille noir tea cup and saucer see the Victoria and Albert Museum collection, Accession Number C1116&A - 1910