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Yongzheng Chinese Export Porcelain Plate with Arms of Elwick of Middlesex
$6,800
£5,199.18
€5,951.34
CA$9,588.82
A$10,438.51
CHF 5,572.33
MX$126,016.72
NOK 70,065.18
SEK 65,120.97
DKK 44,447.86
About the Item
Mercantile Masterpiece: The Elwick Armorial Plate (c. 1730)
This rare and historically significant Chinese Export Armorial Porcelain Plate, dating to Circa 1730 during the Yongzheng Period, was commissioned for John Elwick of Middlesex, a powerful Director of the English East India Company.
This is a canonical example of bespoke armorial porcelain, celebrated for its complex and early decorative scheme:
Central Design: The plate features the finely painted Arms of Elwick of Middlesex. The shield is set dramatically against a serene en grisaille (monochrome, "China-Ink" style) riverscape background.
Crest: The family crest (an armored arm) is prominently displayed in a reserved panel at the top of the rim.
Borders: The plate's sophisticated decoration includes an ornate gilt and iron−red cell diaper border on the cavetto, which is echoed on the rim's ground. The rim also features four reserved gilt oval riverscape panels that visually integrate the border with the central scene.
Dimensions: 9 inches diameter×1 1/2 inches high (22.86 cm diameter).
Historical Context: Innovation and Imperial Power
The Elwick Commission and Elite Status
John Elwick's commission of this service was a direct act of personal and professional branding. As a wealthy merchant and a Director of the English East India Company (EIC), he stood at the pinnacle of global trade. Commissioning an elaborate, custom porcelain service from the EIC's source in China was a conspicuous display of his wealth and, more importantly, his direct control over the very global commercial networks that brought such valuable goods to Europe. The plate is a tangible link to 18th-century mercantile elite status.
An Early Technical Triumph: En Grisaille
This service is historically noted as the earliest datable example of porcelain decorated en grisaille (a monochrome technique using black pigment to mimic ink wash). The success of this plate, circa 1730, is a significant technical achievement for the Jingdezhen potters. Reports from Jesuit missionaries noted that mastering the black pigment, which often dissipated in the kiln's heat, was challenging. This plate, therefore, serves as a physical document of the Chinese potters' successful mastery of a difficult and nascent decorative technique that would later become a hallmark of fine export ware.
Scholarly Significance
The plate's importance is confirmed by its extensive documentation in scholarly works. Pieces from the same John Elwick service are housed in prestigious collections, including a larger dish in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. This established provenance and scholarly record place the plate among the most significant examples of Yongzheng armorial porcelain.
References
Howard, David S. (Chinese Armorial Porcelain)
Fuchs (Illustrated a virtually identical dish, noting its early en grisaille importance).
Le Corbeiller, Claire. (Illustrated a deep dish from the service in the Metropolitan Museum of Art).
(NY10252-icur)
- Dimensions:Height: 1.5 in (3.81 cm)Diameter: 9 in (22.86 cm)
- Style:Chinese Export (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1720-1729
- Date of Manufacture:1730
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Downingtown, PA
- Reference Number:Seller: NY10252-crkr1stDibs: LU861034875882
About the Seller
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