A pair of blue and white “Sense of Smell” dishes. Kangxi period.

Painted in underglazed blue and decorated with a scene of three figures “à la mode Fontange” in European dress, standing on a veranda holding flower sprays, and representing the Sense of Smell. They attended by a servant holding a basket with more flowers, all within a decorative border painted with flowering peony branches.

COUNTRY : China
PERIOD : Kangxi (1662-1722), circa 1700
MATIERIAL : Porcelain
SIZE : 5.90 in. (15.5 cm)
REFERENCE : A28
STATUT : sold
Related works :

For an identical dish, from the Historisch Museum (Amsterdam), see François & Nicolas Hervouet, La porcelaine des Compagnie des Indes à Décor Occidental, 1986, p. 106, no. 4.77

Additonal informations :

This design is possibly taken from a French engraving by the Bonnard brothers.