Bidspirit auction | Pair Chinese Export Burghley House

Pair Chinese Export Burghley House Plates - Rare pair of Chinese export blue and white Burghley House plates, Qianlong ca. 1745. Each painted in underglaze blue with a view of a large country house. A flag flying above the towered entrance and a terrace to one side. Large birds fly overhead and other oversized birds sit in the trees. Surrounded by a baroque scrollwork border. Illustrated in Howard, ”Choice of the Private Trader, ” pg. 87, no. 74 (right). Provenance: Christie's, New York, NY, ”Captains and Kilns: British Ceramics, Chinese Export and Maritime Art, ” 21 January 2003, Lot 249; The Distinguished Collection of Leo & Doris Hodroff. Reference: Michael Archer, ”Catalogue of an Exhibition of English Delftware, ” no. 112. Howard & Ayers, ”China for the West, ” pg. 261-2, no. 257. Lot Essay: While the facade of this castle could be any number of 17th century houses, it is generally thought to be Burghley both because of an existing English Delft prototype and because of a finely painted grisaille Chinese export bowl depicting the house in the collection of the house. (Each) diameter: 9 in. Condition: To one plate there are two hairline cracks extending inwards from the rim. To the other plate there are numerous repaired chips along the rim. To the other plate there are many minute frits to the rim. Light wear to the footrims of both plates.