A Pair of Chinese export famille rose porcelain pheasants
一對粉彩雉雞擺件

18th C, Qianlong Period, China
18世紀清朝，乾隆，中國

Each Length: 15.0 cm x Width: 18.5 cm x Height: 33.5 cm
長：15.0 x寬：18.5 x高：33.5 釐米

The birds each turn to left and right respectively in mirror image as a true pair, their beaks richly painted in thick gilding, perched on high rock work bases splashed in dripping enamels of blue, pink and green, the hollow inside left in the biscuit. The large yellow enamelled legs and claws grip the rock, the lower straight leg with the claw spread open, the other with leg tucked up into the body the claw closed. The pheasants are similarly decorated with pink enamelled fronts, the back of each neck designed with a tiger stripe design in black and gold against an orange brown ground. The wings and tail feathers enamelled in a riot of colours including the orange brown, green and blue, the feather designs outlined in black, enhanced with gilding and white enamel.

Pheasants are recognised as being the most decorative and attractive of all the Chinese export porcelain birds, and this particular model is of the finest quality, indulging to the full in the variety of colours and feather work design possessed by the breed.

Similar Examples

‘International exhibition of Chinese Art’, Royal Academy of Arts London 1935-6 figure 1845

‘Mandarin and Menagerie’, Chinese and Japanese Chinese export figures, The James Sowell collection 2008, figure 16.13.

‘The Copeland collection’ by William Sargent, The Peabody Museum of Salem 1991, Figure 67.