A rare pair of Chinese  blue and white ‘European-subject’ chargers. Qing dynasty, Kangxi period, circa 1700-10. Photo Gibson Antiques

Each painted after a drawing by Robert Bonnart, engraved by his brother Nicolas, originally titled ‘Symphonie du Tympanum, du Luth et de Flute d’allemagne’ in vivid tones of cobalt blue with a fashionable lady playing a dulcimer, accompanied by two gentleman playing a lute and a flute, the rim with a border of eight lotus petal shaped landscape panels, the underside with bamboo sprigs. Diameter: 34.3cm. Price 60 000 €€

An identical ‘Music Party’ charger is illustrated in G.Godden, p.118, pl.21; and on the cover of Chinese Export Art and Design. Another from the ottahedeh
Collection, illustrated in Howard & Ayers, China for the West, volume I, p.77, no.35; and in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, C 781-1910. Recently discussed by M.A. Pinto de Matos, The RA Collection of Chinese Ceramics, volume II , London, 2011, p. 250-1, no. 332 the same subject has been found on tin-glazed earthenware tiles in Holland, so it is likely wares of this design were intended for the Dutch market.

Gibson Antiques will be exhibiting at the Maastricht Fine Art Open House 2012, which runs alongside TEFAF from the 15th to the 25th March 2012 between 11am and 6pm daily

Gibson Antiques. 7 Georgian House, 10 Bury Street, St James's, London SW1Y 6AA - t 00 44 (0) 7831 645468 - alastair@gibsonantiques.com - www.gibsonantiques.com