Description:
Chinese export porcelain plate decorated en grisaille (or encre de chine or ink color) with the scene of two lovers embracing against a barrel set on its side in the cooper's yard, his hat and sword on the ground at their feet, a gilt spearhead border encircling with well, and the rim with a band of foliate scroll cartouches link by further scrolls, copied from an illustration of Le Mesle for the Le Fountaine fable, "Le Cuvier" or "The Barrel." The associated poem reads: "Friendly reader, you must forgive me from blame/ It's enough that I've proved my case/ This couple's frivolous turn increased their pleasure/ Neither of them is new to this game/ Be lovers, and you'll be resourceful." Chinese enamelers developed ink-color decoration as a method of reproducing print images on porcelain for the western market. Dominated by black enamels and washes, ink-color decoration was first produced in the 1730s and remained popular throughout the 18th century. Often period documents refer to this decoration as "pencil'd," reflecting its use of fine brush strokes and black color. This illustration is copied exactly except the Chinese artist omitted one important detail - the husband in the barrel, where the original print showed him while the two lovers played over him.
Subjects:
Pottery; Enamel and enameling; glaze (coating by location); Porcelain Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+SR.16 |
