Description: Chinese export porcelain punch bowl decorated in the Famille rose palette in iron red, pink, purple, blue, green, yellow, brown, black, and gilding. The outsides are decorated with an element of the 'Valentine' pattern - 'Altar of Love' (two flaming hearts on an altar, two doves billing on Cupid's quiver, wreath and side curtain) in two gilt and black-edged oval cartouches and two large floral sprays. and small flowers in the center well. The interior sides have traces of blue-outlined floral spray, and the well has a circle of polychrome flowers. The 'Valentine' pattern, a combination of pastoral, erotic, and exotic South Seas elements such as a breadfruit tree and coconut palm, was originally found on a 1743 dinner service made in Canton for Commodore George Anson (1697-1762). It was probably designed by then First Lieutenant Piercy Brett (1709-1781), Anson's official artist during his 1740-1744 circumnavigation; many of Brett's drawings were used as the basis for the engravings in "Anson's Voyages", published in 1748. 'Altar of Love' and 'Absent Master' (tree, wreath, dogs, sheep, shepherd's crook, pipes and hat) were independent motifs, remembrances of home, first combined on the 1743 service. Two other scenes are known to have been used: 2 wolves (or dogs) approaching a cottage; and a cottage, woman spining, man, oxen, and bridge (see HD 60.168).
Link to share this object record: https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+62.084 |