A Chinese export armorial famille-rose tea set with the coat-of-arms of the House of Orange Qing dynasty, circa 1747

comprising: a tea pot and cover; covered sugar bowl; covered cream jug; waste bowl; a smaller bowl; twelve cups and nine saucers; a small dish; two shell-shaped dishes; each decorated with the arms of Prince William IV Karel Hendrick Friso of Orange (1711-1751) within an elaborate border of floral garlands, inscribed with the motto VIVAT ORANYE

Probably commissioned by Samuel Baron van Eck van Overbeek (1691-1760) for Huis Overbeek in Velp which was destroyed by a fire in 1704, rebuilt in 1767 and demolished in 1906;
Thence by direct descent to the present owner.

Five teabowls are cracked and two are restored, one saucer is cracked and two have minor chips, the larger saucer has three small areas of restoration to the rim, the tea caddy has some restoration to the rim and a small chip to the cover and the larger bowl with the flared rim has a crack and some rim chips. There is also some rubbing to the gilding throughout the set.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Related Literature

Dr. Jochem Kroes, Chinese Armorial porcelain for the Dutch Market, Zwolle 2007, cat. nr. 226, pp. 309- 310, p. 585.

A similar service consisting of thirty-eight pieces also dating from circa 1747 and decorated with the coat-of-arms of Willem IV and the motto 'vivat oranye', but lacking the other decoration, is in the collection of the Rijksmuseum Het Loo (Kroes, op. cit., cat. nr. 318). Further pieces of what were probably originally only two services commissioned by different Orangist patrons include:

- a hexagonal teapot stand with fluted sides, Chinese Porcelain Company New York ('CPC New York'), 28 April-24 May 1994, lot no. 33 (Sotheby’s New York, 14 October 1993, lot 170, together with tea caddy and 2 cups and 2 saucers) (Kroes, op. cit., cat. no 226);
- a tea caddy with cover and applied scrollwork at the foot, CPC New York, 28 April-24 May 1994, lot 34;
- 2 teacups and 2 saucers, CPC New York 28 April-24 May 1994, lots 35-36;
- a teacup and saucer, CPC New York, 12 October-4 November 1995, lot 129;
- another teapot stand and tea caddy with cover, Christie's New York, 22 January 2002, lot 169.