Lot 41 A Chinese blue and white reticulated 'Linglong' cup, Hatcher Cargo

A Chinese blue and white reticulated 'Linglong' cup, Hatcher Cargo

Transitional period

未知

€ 2.000 – € 4.000

OH: H. 5 cm, Diam. 9 cm

未知

Thinly potted with gently flaring sides rising from a short tapering foot, the exterior is decorated in underglaze cobalt blue with circular landscape medallions depicting pavilions, rockwork and trees, alternating with delicately reticulated linglong panels of geometric latticework. The lower body is encircled by a band of stylised lotus petals, while the rim is bordered by a finely painted diaper pattern. The interior is left plain beneath a clear glaze, accentuating the remarkable translucency of the porcelain body.
Bowls and cups of this type formed part of the cargo recovered from the Hatcher Wreck, the Dutch East India Company ship lost in the South China Sea around 1643–1644. Their presence aboard the vessel confirms that such wares were produced in considerable quantities for the export market. VOC records further demonstrate their popularity in the Dutch Republic. A memorandum sent by the Gentlemen Seventeen (Heren XVII) to Batavia on 12 April 1638 lists among the most desirable wares “2,000 pieces… being a cup cut through, with roundels painted beautifully on the outside,” almost certainly referring to vessels of this type. Earlier correspondence from Governor-General Jacques Specx in 1634 already mentions doorluchtich (“see-through” or “cut-through”) porcelain, while an order placed in Formosa in 1643 distinguishes between “half cut through” and “wholly cut through” cups.
碗胎體輕薄，器壁微外撇，下承矮束圈足。外壁以釉下青花繪圓形山水開光，內飾亭台、山石與林木，並與幾何格紋鏤空玲瓏開光相間排列。近足處環飾變形蓮瓣紋，口沿飾細密錦地紋。內壁素白，施透明釉，更顯胎體輕薄通透。
此類碗杯見於約1643至1644年沉沒於南中國海的 ‘哈徹沉船’ （Hatcher Wreck）貨物中。該沉船實為一艘載有大量外銷瓷器的中國帆船，並非荷蘭東印度公司船隻，船貨中同類器數量可觀，證明其為外銷市場批量燒製。
荷蘭東印度公司（VOC）檔案亦顯示，此類玲瓏瓷在荷蘭共和國廣受歡迎。1638年4月12日，VOC ‘十七人董事會’ （Heren XVII）致巴達維亞的備忘錄中，將 ‘二千件……鏤空杯，外壁精繪圓形開光’ 列為最受歡迎的瓷器之一，所指幾乎可以確定正是此類器物。早在1634年，總督雅克・斯佩克斯（Jacques Specx）的信函中已提及 doorluchtich，即 ‘通透’ 或 ‘鏤空’ 瓷器，1643年在臺灣下達的訂單，更將此類杯區分為 ‘半鏤空’ 與 ‘全鏤空’ 兩種。
Literature:
Katharine Butler and Teresa Canepa, 'Leaping the Dragon Gate: The Sir Michael Butler Collection of Seventeenth-century Chinese Porcelain', pp. 137-138, fig. III.1.117 for an identical example.
Jorge Welsh Books, 'Linglong', pp. 13-25, for a discussion by Teresa Canepa on the 'linglong' technique.
Colin Sheaf, Richard Kilburn, 'The Hatcher Porcelain Cargoes. The Complete Record'.
Provenance:
Christie's Amsterdam, 14 March 1984, 'Fine And Important Late Ming And Transitional Porcelain, Recently Recovered from an Asian Vessel in the South China Sea. Property of Captain Michael Hatcher', lot 196 (sold as a lot of six). (see added scan)
Marc Michot, Bruges.
The Mr. and Mrs. Baert-Devos Collection, Belgium. Acquired from the above in 2002 and accompanied by a copy of their certificate of authenticity. (see added scan)