A pair of rare and important Daoguang mark and period Canton…
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A pair of rare and important Daoguang mark and period Canton porcelain bowls, with monochrome lime-green enamelled interiors, painted in the famille rose palette to the exterior with an encircling tribute scene, beneath a rim patterned with gilt quatrefoil diaper motifs on a cobalt ground. Six character iron-red seal marks of Daoguang (1820-1850) under the foot, reserved in a square cartouche on a conforming lime-green glazed ground, the finely painted tribute scene reveals the Emperor carrying a baton of office, an attendant behind him with a fan standing in a walled garden. Eleven courtiers and nobles proceed towards him each carrying a bough or stem of a flowering plant, including peony, lotus, magnolia and chrysanthemum, These two bowls are part of a known and recorded service either purchased by or commissioned specifically for John Reeves (1774-1856). Reeves went to china in 1812 and subsequently became Chief Inspector of tea for the East India Company in Canton. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1817, and as a keen naturalist, instructed by Sir Joseph Banks the Society's President, he sent living specimens of Chinese flowering plants back to England. Hence, he was responsible for the introduction of many garden plants to the West including chrysanthemums, azaleas and wisteria. The appeal to Reeves of the tribute scene with numerous flowering specimens illustrated on the bowls is obvious. One with hairline at rim, the other with minute frit at rim, diameter 10.6 cm, height 5.6 cm

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  • Monochrome / Monochromatic - A painting or drawing finished in a single colour, or in different shades of a single color.
  • Diaper Motif - The diaper motif is a repeating geometric pattern in decorative arts that consists of small diamond or lozenge shapes arranged in a grid. The pattern is often used as a background or border on textiles, ceramics, metalwork, and other decorative items. It can be found in a variety of cultures and historical periods, and is often used in formal or ornamental designs. The name "diaper" comes from the pattern's resemblance to the criss-crossed fabric of a baby's diaper.

  • Cartouche - An ornamental panel in the form of of a shield, oval or rectangular scroll with curling edges. It may be carved into the back of a chair or the top of a sideboard, or present on a piece of silver or jewellery, and contain the initials of the original owner, heraldic symbols, or some other inscription, such as the details of a presentation.

    In ceramics the term defines the central area of a vase or similar with a decorative border in one of the shapes above, into which a decorative scene or figures have been painted.
  • Quatrefoil - A stylised four-circle design, itself contained within a larger circle, with Gothic origins and often seen as window designs in ecclesiastical architecture. The use of the motif was popular in Gothic Revival furniture of the 19th century.
  • East India Company - The British East India Company was a British trading company that was active from 1600 to 1858. It was one of the leading commercial enterprises of its time and played a key role in the development of British trade and commerce with India, China, and Southeast Asia.

    The British East India Company was granted a monopoly on trade with the East Indies by the English government, and it quickly established a network of trading posts and settlements throughout India and Southeast Asia. The company was involved in numerous wars and conflicts in India and Southeast Asia, and it gradually gained political influence over large parts of the region.

    In addition to its commercial activities, the British East India Company was also involved in the spread of British culture and influence in the regions it traded with. The company played a significant role in the introduction of British goods, ideas, and institutions in India and Southeast Asia, and it was instrumental in the establishment of the British Empire in India.
    The British East India Company was dissolved in 1858, following the Indian Rebellion of 1857.



    The Dutch East India Company, also known as the Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC), was a Dutch trading company that was active from 1602 to 1798. It was one of the first multinational corporations in the world and one of the largest commercial enterprises in history.

    The Dutch East India Company was established with the goal of establishing a trade monopoly in the spice trade with the East Indies. The company was granted a 21-year monopoly on the Dutch spice trade, and it quickly became one of the most successful and powerful trading companies in the world.

    Over the course of the 17th and 18th centuries, the Dutch East India Company expanded its reach and influence throughout Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the Far East. The company established a network of trading posts and colonies, and it played a major role in the commercial and political development of many regions in Asia.

    Despite its commercial success, the Dutch East India Company was also notorious for its ruthless treatment of local populations and its exploitation of resources. The company was involved in numerous conflicts and wars throughout its history, and it was accused of using slave labor and engaging in acts of piracy.

    The Dutch East India Company was dissolved in 1798.

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