CHINE, Compagnie des Indes, XVIIIe siècle*

Rare porcelain vase Mounted on a foot, with rounded body and straight neck, presenting on each side, in polychrome enamels on a white background, a decoration attributed to Cornelis Pronk, presenting a parrot on a perch supported by a motif in the shape of a melon, the bird holding a cherry in a greenhouse. Blue bands surrounded by gold edging at the foot and neck. Height : 29 cm Slight chipping at the heel Text below Cornelis Pronk (1691-1751), Dutch artist and draughtsman, was, from 1734, commissioned by the Dutch East India Company to make a He was commissioned by the Dutch East India Company in 1734 to produce a series of drawings to be transposed onto Chinese porcelain for the European market. Massively distributed during the 18th century, his works, with Chinese inspirations, became popular. Pronk's work included floral motifs, landscape scenes, figures and animals. The parrot, a symbol of wealth, lust and exoticism in Western culture, was a motif primarily used for export pieces. Pronk's work helped to popularize Chinese porcelain among European nobility, who considered them objects of great value and prestige.