Saucer

Dateca. 1780 (Qianlong)

MediumPorcelain, hard-paste

DimensionsDiam.: 4 3/4" OH: 15/16"

Credit LinePartial gift of Betty Kramer Brown and Stuart H. Brown

Object number2000-389

DescriptionChinese export porcelain saucer with polychrome enamel decoration depicting a scene of a man and woman in European dress embracing on the shore as the man points toward his ship at anchor in the distance. A walking stick in his left hand appears behinf the woman. The four-masted ship flies an iron red flag with rectangular reserve at top left. The shoreline beyond the couple hosts a church with three, domed towers and on a spit of land beyond, a harbor village. A small, single-masted ship floats nearby. This scene is taken from an English engraving, "The Sailor's Farewell" by C. Moseley (1743). The rim is decorated with a band of gilding edged in black. The saucer sits on a low footring.

Two 1/8" and one 1/4" sliver from rim and some wear to enamels.
Label TextThis Chinese export porcelain saucer is decorated in opaque enamels and gilding with a scene is taken from the English engraving, "The Sailor's Farewell" by C. Moseley (1743). Appearing as a motif in all sorts of media for over a century, the scene played on the loneliness of widows, real and metaphorical, of the maritime trades.
ProvenancePurchased by Stuart and Betty Brown from Ginsburg and Levy Antiques in New York.

Paper labels on bottom: "GINSBURG & LEVY, Inc. / ANTIQUES / 815 Madison Ave. / New York / Oriental / Lowestoft / circa 1760." and circular label: "COLLECTION OF BETTY BROWN".