Bidspirit auction | Pair Famille Rose Hawks

Pair Famille Rose Hawks - Pair of Chinese export porcelain famille rose models of hawks, ca. late Qianlong. Each modeled standing on a pierced rockwork base, wings tucked at their sides, with iron-red breasts and colorful feathers. Provenance: Christie's, London, ”Fine Chinese Export Ceramics and Works of Art, ” 7 November 1994, Lot 95; The Distinguished Collection of Leo & Doris Hodroff. Reference: Sargent, ”The Copeland Collection, ” pg. 150-1, no. 68; 170-1, no. 79. Minneapolis Institute of Art, accession no. 77.51.1. Lot Essay: Small hawks, called haidongqing, were used by the Chinese for goose hunting and became a traditional subject in representations of the annual goose hunt. Pairs of hawks, sometimes referred to as sparrow hawks, were especially popular in the English and French markets (when mounted on ormolu bases), appearing regularly in auction records in the mid-18th century. The monogrammed initials MR are inscribed along the interior of one of the birds, possibly a collector's mark. (Each) Height: 15 in x width: 8 1/2 in x depth: 6 in. Condition: To one hawk, there are signs of overspray restoration and a repaired break along the length of the left wing as well as the beak; there are additional signs of overpainting along the blue and white feathers along the wings. To the second hawk, there are similar signs of restoration to the left wing and beak, as well as to the upper quadrant of the right wing and both feet. There are some minute to small-sized chips along the high points of the rocks as well as the eyes and bodies of the birds. Crazing to the glaze. Dust gathered throughout. Wear commensurate with age and material. Some wear to the footrims.