A Qianlong Chinese Coffee Cup, decorated in the James Giles studio, circa 1755-65
This Chinese Qianlong coffee cup was made for export to Europe in around 1750. Soon after its arrival in England, the cup was painted in the Giles studio with a butterfly and a bouquet of European flowers, including a pink rose and harebells. The interior base is painted with a single blue flower stem.
Dr Bernard Watney termed this particular style of Giles flower painting as ‘Type B’.
Condition: The Giles enamel decoration is in excellent order, with wear to the gilt line rim. No cracks or restoration. There is a flat chip to the inside rim, and smaller chips to the rim edge. One of these has been gilded, which may suggest it occurred post-manufacture but prior to being gilded and enamelled in London. There are typical minor potting and firing flaws.
Dimensions: Height 6.5 cm
The Early James Giles and his Contemporary London Decorators, Stephen Hanscombe (Stockspring Antiques Publications, 2008).
European Decoration on Oriental Porcelain, 1700-1830, Helen Espir (Jorge Welsh Books, 2005).
The Watney Collection of Chinese Porcelain Decorated in Holland and England (Bonhams, 2003).