Description:
Saucer part of a teacup and saucer set. Chinese export porcelain teacup (the handle has been broken off) and deep saucer decorated with the scene known as 'The Sailor's Farewell' in the Famille rose palette of pink, green, black, yellow, blue, orange, iron-red, brown, grey, and gilding. This scene of a fond farewell of a sailor or merchant leaving his wife or sweetheart for the Indies was painted on Chinese porcelain over 40 years in several versions - this version has the couple under a tree while the man points to his ship with his right hand and holds a tricorn hat around the back of the woman in his left with a building in the background. Often, the man points to his ship with one hand while holding a cane in his other. The ships were usually painted the same but with different flags to suit different markets, in this instance what appears to be the royal Portuguese flag. It has been noted that the Chinese artists never understood the significance of the 'Sailor's Farewell' and its complementary scene, 'Sailor's Return', in that the ship is nearly always shown under full sail so that the sailor appears to take his leave too late or arrive ashore too soon. The design was particularly popular on mugs and punch bowls of the late 18th century, and although the dress might change, the basic pose was always the same. Both the cup and saucer have slightly fluted upper bodies and scrolling green floral bands around the inside of the gilt-edged scalloped rims.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+67.263A |
