This design has come to be known as the ‘Lady in a Pavilion’ pattern and is taken directly from a Japanese Kakiemon original. Japanese examples are recorded in historic British collections such as Burghley House, Stamford, (Ayers et al., 1990, p. 155, no. 127).
The design originally refers to a scene from the 11th century Tale of Genji, when Prince Genji catches a glimpse of the beautiful young girl Murasaki who is lamenting the escape of her nightingale.
J. V. G. Mallet (1965, pp. 17-18) has suggested that this pattern was described as ‘Old Lady Pattern’ (the ‘Old’ referring design rather than the lady) in the Chelsea sales, in which case it was still being offered in the 1756 sale catalogue.
Condition:
Long fine crack across saucer, visible on the reverse, minute frits
References:
John Ayers; Oliver Impey; J. V. G. Mallet; Porcelain for Palaces: The Fashion for Japan in Europe 1650-1750, (Oriental Ceramic Society, 1990)
Menno Fitski, Kakiemon Porcelain: A Handbook, (Amsterdam: Leiden University Press 2011)
J. V. G. Mallet, ‘A Chelsea Talk’, Transactions of the English Ceramic Circle, vol. 6 part 1, 1965
Price: £2,900
