Chinese Export En Grisaille Teapoy with European Figures

The charming Chinese Export porcelain teapoy and cover is painted to each side en grisaille with iron-red details.

To one side is an image of a a young man playing the mandolin serenading a young lady who is reaching down to play with a dog. This image is very interesting because of the details visible in the scene. On the table behind her are two porcelain tea bowls and, by the side of the table, a Chinese porcelain covered urn. On the wall behind is a wall-mounted candleholder which may also be porcelain.

The reverse side is painted with a townscape of a European town with four figures depicted and a strange-looking building, probably a church made of wood with a steeple with a cross surmounted on top.

Each scene is within a shaped black and gold border. To each side is a central red and gold flowerhead with plants growing out of the four sides. The cover is similarly painted with two small panels of the townscape and also with tiny figures. The space between is also with the gold and iron-red flowers and flowerheads except it is compressed between the panels and does not have space around them as on the side. The foot has openwork scrolls to imitate waves.

Dimensions: 5 1/4 inches high x 3 inches diameter (13.34cm high x 7.62 diameter)

Reference : Francois et Nicole Hervouet & Yves Bruneau, La Porcelaine Des Compagnies Des Indes A Decor Occidental, Page 188, #8.17 for a similar teapoy but without it’s cover.

(Ref: VM98538)