A rare Chinese porcelain 'Rockefeller' pattern part dinner service

A rare Chinese porcelain 'Rockefeller' pattern part dinner service
18th century
Each piece brightly enameled in famille rose colours with a different, finely detailed Chinese figure scene set in a garden or landscape, the large scenes contained within inner borders of sepia diaper pattern and outer borders of richly gilt scrollwork, both borders inset with cartouches in sepia and iron-red, comprising:

A fruit cooler liner and cover, 20cm dia.
Two fluted square dishes, 23cm wide
A fluted square dish, 26cm wide
A sauce tureen and cover, 12cm high
A reticulated oval chestnut basket, 20cm wide
Two reticulated oval chestnut baskets, 17.5cm wide
Three teabowls, 4.5cm high
Three teabowls, 5.5cm high
Three coffee cans, 7cm high
Twelve various saucers, 12.5-15cm dia.
Eight circular dishes, 19cm dia.

(39)

The collection of Major John Bridge (1777-1837), thence by direct descent to the vendor.

John Bridge (1777-1837) served with the 45th Regiment and then in the 63rd after the Peninsular War, serving under the Duke of Wellington as Sergeant Major. At the end of hostilities, he returned to Dublin to become lead Master of the Barracks until his death in 1837. The part service in the present lot was among possessions passed down through the family to Halls' vendor, his paternal great(x3)-grandson.

The so-called 'Rockefeller' pattern is a richly decorated type of Chinese export porcelain made in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, principally during the late Qianlong and Jiaqing periods, circa 1790–1810. It was produced in China for the Western export market, at a time when European and American clients were ordering elaborate dinner services through the China trade.

It was earlier known among collectors as 'Palace ware', a term inspired by its sumptuous appearance rather than by any proven connection with the Chinese Imperial Palace. Typical pieces are painted in the famille rose palette with a different scene at the centre — often figures in gardens, pavilions, terraces or domestic interiors — surrounded by lavish borders of gilt, sepia diaper-work, landscape cartouches and small reserves of birds or scenery. Each piece in such services was often individually painted with a different figural scene.

The later name 'Rockefeller pattern' arose in the 20th century because important examples were owned by members of the Rockefeller family, especially John D. Rockefeller Jr. and later Nelson and David Rockefeller. The family’s collecting of Chinese export porcelain was multi-generational, and thus services with this richly enamelled decoration became known in the West as 'Rockefeller' pattern through that association.

Although closely associated today with American collecting history, the original services were luxury export wares made for Western patrons, including British trading families connected with the East India Company. One large service was likely ordered around 1805 by John Roberts, a Director of the British East India Company.

The appeal of the Rockefeller pattern lies in its combination of technical virtuosity and theatrical decoration: no two central scenes are quite alike, and the gilded borders give the service a grandeur that made it one of the most admired patterns at the end of the China trade. Its Rockefeller provenance later transformed an export porcelain design into a recognised collecting category in its own right.

Condition Report

A fruit cooler liner and cover: Cover missing top of finial. Some minor rubbing to the gilt.
Two fluted square dishes: Both good.
A fluted square dish: Broken in half with old riveted repair and associated loss to rim.
A sauce tureen and cover: Good.
A reticulated oval chestnut basket: Missing both handles.
Two reticulated oval chestnut baskets: Both with losses to one handle. Minor rubbing to the gilt on the other handles.
Three teabowls, 4.5cm high: Two have fine hairlines. One has a rim chip and associated hairline. Minor rubbing to gilt in places.
Three teabowls, 5.5cm high: One with fine hairlines. One with tiny rim chip and fine hairline. One with small rim chip and fine hairlines. Some rubbing to the gilt in places.
Three coffee cans: One has some rubbing to the gilt in places and pronounced glaze speckling inside. The other two have very minor gilt rubbing on the handles and some very light speckling inside.
Twelve various saucers: hairline and gilt rubbing; rim chip and glaze speckling x4; gilt rubbing;
Eight circular dishes: Five with visible glaze speckling to the back; one with rim chips; two with some minor gilt rubbing.
PLEASE REFER TO IMAGES

Bidding indicates acceptance of the condition of the lot.  All lots are sold subject to general wear and tear commensurate with age and handling over time and only obvious faults will be mentioned after a visual inspection. If you have particular specialist questions on any lot, please state these before bidding since we cannot and will not provide a forensic examination of any lot but only a general condition report as a guide only. All condition reports given by Halls Holdings Ltd's representatives or agents are statements of opinion and not fact. If you require any further information about any lots in this auction or about bidding please do not hesitate to contact us again.