An elegant pair of famille rose figures; each one designed as a high ranking Manchu/Chinese lady wearing black hair in an elaborate top knot and holding a large sconce decorated with lotus. Both figures wearing a pink apron, a long floral decorated skirt and a mottled green tunic across the shoulder; the bases both unglazed, 29 cm high, Qing Dynasty
Provenance: The Property of a Lady. From a Private English Collection. Inherited by the vendor from her mother, and thought to have been acquired by the family over 60 years ago.
There is much that can be implied as to the state of wealth in Qing China from these figures. Apart from the obvious ability in ceramic manufacture and glaze quality, it is notable that the genre portrays considerable attention to the fashionable designs worn by high ranking ladies during both the 18th and 19th Centuries. The patterns are both formal and expressive, with a variety of colour that presumably copied the original garment accurately. For another pair of standing figures, also modelled as elegantly dressed Manchu/Chinese ladies [but with movable heads], compare V&A F.E.18 to C-1978 (illustrated page 51 of 'Chinese Export Art and Design', Edited by Craig Clunas/ISBN 1-85177000 3).Please note that these figures have several areas of damage or deterioration, including: extremity loss, repair and re-gluing.