A CHINESE EXPORT 'THE FOUR DOCTORS' BOTTLE VASE circa 1738-40

painted with a continuous scene of a Chinese gentleman standing behind three men seated around a low table set with a dish, one man pointing to the fish held by each of the other two, a peacock perched on the garden fence behind them looking up at a parrot perched on the branch above, and on the back a crane at the edge of a stream beneath the branches of a flowering tree, the rim with a yellow diapered lappet border and the footrim with a turquoise scalework border.

Good condition.
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.

According to Jörg 1980, p. 26, this design with the standing figure, which sometimes is referred to as 'The Doctors' Visit to the Emperor,' is the second design Pronk executed for the Dutch East India Company.  Although drawn in 1735, it did not arrive in Canton until 1737, and in view of the high cost of translating it onto porcelain, only five dinner services and 54 'mantelpiece sets' were ordered at the outset.  In August 1738, however, "a second order was placed...for 'porcelain in accordance with the 1736 drawing', now for 10 dinner services, 10 tea services and 20 vases with basins, [which were shipped to the Netherlands] via Batavia on the Popkensburg in March 1739."  Bottles of this form would have been a component of one of the five-piece 'mantelpiece sets' or garnitures (consisting of three bottles and a pair of beaker vases), of which, according to the Dutch East India Company records, 18 famille-rose and 18 blue and white garnitures of this design were sent to the Netherlands.

Various pieces in this pattern are illustrated by Jörg 1980, p. 27, fig. 7 and pp. 74-79, nos 38-47, including an identical bottle, p. 78, no. 46; and Jörg 1982, p. 104, figs. 36 and 37, and p. 191, fig. 90, the covered vase illustrated also by Howard and Ayers, Vol. I, p. 294.  Similar bottles are illustrated by Beurdeley, p. 178, cat. 125; Jörg 1989, p. 145, no. 48, who also illustrates on p. 141, no. 47 a plate in this pattern; and Lunsingh Scheurleer, pl. 201, who also illustrates in pls. 197-200 two dishes, a jug and the 1739 drawing of a teabowl and saucer in the three-figure version of the pattern.  A blue and white garniture of three similar bottles and a pair of beakers is illustrated by Howard 1994, p. 240, no. 284, who also illustrates a plate, p. 74, no. 54, where he records the orders for pieces in this design.  A dish is illustrated by Le Corbeiller 1973, p. 44, no. 29; and a plate is illustrated by Williamson, pl. XLVI (bottom, right); and Wirgin, p. 174, no. 188.  A rare basin in this pattern is in the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts

An identical bottle was sold at Christie's in London on June 10, 1996, lot 285; and a slightly larger example was sold at Christie's in New York on January 26, 2006, lot 174.

See the illustration on the preceding page.