China, circa 1730-1740. The dishes each with fluted sides and scalloped rim, finely decorated in gilt and bright enamels to the center with a roundel enclosing a lady seated on a rockwork bench below a flowering prunus tree and with two fluttering butterflies, and to the sides with colorful panels, some of which are decorated with diaper patterns including wan symbols and circular designs. The cups similarly decorated with a roundel at the well, colorful panels to the exterior walls below a scalloped rim, and neatly incised in anhua at the interior sides to depict bamboo stalks.

Provenance: S. Marchant & Son, London, 2005. Richard and Maxine Markell, acquired from the above. A copy of the original invoice from S. Marchant & Son, London, dated 2 April 2005, dating the piece to the Yongzheng or early Qianlong period, circa 1735, and stating a purchase price of USD 3,500 or approx. EUR 5,100 (converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing), accompanies this lot. The base of one dish with an old label, ‘Marchant London Qianlong 1736-1795’. Richard Markell (1932-2021) was the son of chiropractor Maurice J. Markell, who established the family business Markell Shoes focusing on orthopedic footwear and orthotic devices. Richard and his wife Maxine (1935-2019) were avid collectors of Asian art, specializing in Chinese porcelain. Over the years, the couple amassed an extraordinary selection of extremely well-enameled pieces. They bought from some of the best dealers of their generation, and their purchases spanned 250 years of Chinese porcelain production.
Condition: Very good condition with only minor wear and remarkably bright enamels, few microscopic frits and nibbles to the rims, expected manufacturing flaws including dark spots.

Weight: 70.7 g and 62.1 g (the dishes), and 40.7 g and 40.0 g (the cups)
Dimensions: Diameter 10.7 cm and 10.6 cm (the dishes), and 6.5 cm (each cup)

Each set with a well carved and fitted wood presentation stand. (6)

Literature comparison:
Compare a closely related tea bowl and saucer with fishermen at the center, now in the Hodroff Collection, formerly in the Martin-Hurst and Mottahedeh Collections, is illustrated by D. Howard, The Choice of the Private Trader, London, 1994, p.175, no.198. For a related example painted with a fisherman at the center, see David Howard and John Ayers, China for the West, Vol. I, London and New York, 1978, p. 156, pl. 139.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s London, 10 April 2002, lot 408
Price: GBP 1,998 or approx. EUR 4,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A pair of fluted famille rose tea bowls and saucers, circa 1730-40
Expert remark: Compare the closely related form and decoration.



雍正末期至乾隆初期一對粉彩茶碗與碟子
中國，約1730-1740年。碟子扇形邊緣，中央開光，描繪了一位坐在花樹下的石凳上的貴婦，兩隻飛舞的蝴蝶，卍 符紋。對應茶碗内也有相對的圖案。

來源：倫敦S. Marchant & Son藝廊，2005年；Richard 與 Maxine Markell購於上述藝廊。隨附2005年4月2日出具的原始發票複印本，售價 USD 3,500 或相當於 EUR 5,100 (根據通貨膨脹率)。一個盤子下有舊標籤 ‘Marchant 倫敦 Qianlong 1736-1795’。Richard 與 Maxine Markell私人收藏。Richard Markell (1932-2021年) 是脊椎按摩師 Maurice J. Markell 的兒子，他建立了專注於矯形鞋類和矯形器具的家族企業 Markell Shoes。Richard 和他的妻子 Maxine（1935-2019年）是亞洲藝術的忠實收藏家，尤其在中國瓷器方面。多年來，這對夫婦收藏了一系列精美絕倫的陶瓷。他們從那時最好的經銷商那裡購買，跨越了 250 年的中國瓷器生產，最早的藏品可追溯至清初，大致反映了康雍乾隆三個時期粉彩硬彩的發展和西方對它們的欣賞。
品相：狀況極好，只有輕微磨損，邊緣上有輕微琺瑯磨損和磕損，製造缺陷如黑點。

重量：碟子分別爲70.7 克 與 62.1 克，茶碗分別爲40.7克與40.0 克
尺寸：直徑分別爲 10.7 厘米 與10.6 厘米 (碟子)，茶碗直徑分別爲 6.5 厘米

木底座。(6)

文獻比較：
比較一件非常相近的漁夫茶碗和醬碟，現收藏於Hodroff Collection，曾藏於Martin-Hurst and Mottahedeh Collections，見D. Howard，《The Choice of the Private Trader》，倫敦，1994，頁175，編號198。一件相近的例子，中間一樣畫有漁夫，見 David Howard和John Ayers，《China for the West》，卷I，倫敦和紐約，1978年，頁156，圖139。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：倫敦佳士得，2002年4月10日，lot 408
價格：GBP 1,998（相當於今日EUR 4,500）
描述：約1730-40年一對粉彩茶碗與醬碟
專家評論：比較非常相近的外形和裝飾。