A CHINESE EXPORT IMARI 'LA DAME AU PARASOL' PLATE circa 1736-38

painted with a Chinese lady standing beneath the parasol held by her attendant and observing three water birds near bulrushes, the cavetto with a floral border, and the honeycomb-patterned rim reserved with foliate-scroll-edged cartouches of water birds alternating with panels of either the lady or her attendant, and painted on the underside in underglaze-blue with seven winged insects.  Glaze cracks on the base.

Elinor Gordon, Villanova, Pennsylvania

Fine glaze cracks beneath in center (2 1/4, 1 5/8 inches and do not show through to front), 1mm original chip under the edge at 7 o'clock, minor scratching to the central gilding. Elinor Gordon sticker.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This pattern from Pronk's first design, illustrated by Jörg 1980, p. 15, fig. 3a and p. 60, no. 5, is the most prolific and best known of all of Pronk's designs.  Not only was it produced in the three aforementioned palettes, but it also was tried in Japanese porcelain in an unsuccessful effort by the V.O.C. to reduce the costs of production.  More significantly, however, its production was revived in the 1770s, possibly as a result of the sale in 1772 of the art collection of Cornelis Pronk's brother Aldert, which included several of Pronk's drawings.  According to Jörg 1980, p. 23, "it is conceivable that the new owner may, for example, have used the drawing of the parasol ladies again, ordering some services after it in China, [pieces of which are illustrated ibid., p. 22, figs. 5a/b].  That porcelain with the parasol ladies was popular in Europe until late in the 18^th century is also demonstrated by the fact that in the Cozzi porcelain factory in Venice (1764-1812) the motif was imitated on tableware;" and it also appears in The Netherlands on Amstel porcelain [see ibid., p. 72, no. 37] as well as on Delftware" [see ibid., p. 23, fig. 6].

Further accounts of this pattern are given and various pieces are illustrated by Beurdeley, p. 56, figs. 32-35; Fuchs, p. 62, no. 24, who illustrates an Imari and a blue and white example along with the original Pronk design, circa 1734-38; Howard 1994, who on p. 73, no. 53 illustrates a blue and white plate, and on p. 76, no. 57 a Japanese plate; Howard and Ayers, Vol. I, pp. 297-299, nos. 290-293: a famille-rose plate, a blue and white coffee cup and saucer, an Imari plate and a Japanese plate; Jörg 1982, pp. 100 and 101, figs. 31-33 and 35, and p. 105, fig. 40; Jörg 1989, p. 139, no. 45: a 1736-38 Imari plate, and p. 141, no. 46 a 1770-75 Imari plate; Le Corbeiller 1973, p. 42, no. 27; Le Corbeiller 1974, pp. 54, no. 24, and 57, figs. 21 and 22; Litzenburg and Bailey, p. 175, no. 170; Lunsingh Scheurleer, pls. 192-196; Phillips, p. 53, fig. 53; Veiga, p. 80, pl. 55; and Wirgin, p. 173, nos. 185 and 186, a blue and white dish of 1736-38 and an Imari plate of 1770-75, and on p. 174, no. 187, a blue and white saucer of circa 1720-30, with a figure beneath a parasol held by an attendant, which might have served as the original inspiration for Pronk's 'Parasol Lady' design.

Nine plates and dishes in this pattern were in the collection of Mr. and Mrs. George Fenimore Johnson, sold in these rooms on January 19, 2008, lots 39-43.  A blue and white plate, a famille-rose plate and a pair of Imari plates in the pattern were in the collection of Leo and Doris Hodroff, sold at Christie's in New York on January 23, 2008, lots 250, 251 and 252, respectively, along with several other contemporary variations of the pattern, lots 253-257.