REF No. 6054
sold: teabowl and saucer
Qianlong period circa 1750
Dutch Market
Saucer diameter: 4¾ inches; 12cm
An extremely rare polychrome teabowl and saucer depicting the Ascension of Christ with nine of the Disciples below, after an engraving by Jan Luyken in the Lutheran Nederduyste Bijbel, 1750
This is the rarest of these religious designs known on export porelain, and it is only known in famille rose enamels, no grisaille version having come to light. This suggests that the series was first ordered in famille rose and that the grisaille orders followed soon after. Because this image resembles the resurrection it is possible that the supercargoes ordering the later sets did not wish to appear to duplicate.
