Vase and cover
Category
Ceramics
Date
1740 - 1760
Materials
Porcelain, polychrome enamels, gilt
Order this imageCollection
Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland
NT 1276619
Summary
Monumental vase or jar and cover, porcelain, baluster shape, painted in famille-rose enamels with 'ho-ho' birds among flowering trees in a fenced garden, an elaborate border encircling the domed shoulders; cover with lotus bud finial; China, Jingdezhen, 1740-60.
Full description
The house in Hanover Square, in London, of Sir John Hussey-Delaval, 1st Baron Delaval (1728-1808), which was remodelled for him by the Scottish Neo-Classical architect Robert Adam (1728-92) between 1781 and 1783, contained a number of pieces of Chinese porcelain. Exceptional large vases appear to have been the centrepieces in the ante-chamber which led from the hall to the large drawing room, where further Chinese jars were displayed. Additionally, an arrangement of Chinese blue and white vases adorned the adjacent breakfast room, along with a bookcase of Chinese form. A pair of vases were bought by Lord Delaval from the collection of a Mr Lever through the auspices of Thomas Waring on 2 May 1778, those referred to as 'remarkable for their size and beauty', at the considerable cost of 30 guineas (The Delaval Family Papers, Northumberland Archives (formerly Northumberland Collection Services) 2/DE/31/2). A pair of monumental jars from the Delaval collection were sold at Sotheby's, London, 4 November 2009, lot 239, acquired by the Tibor Collection and later sold at Christie's, New York, 29 October 2019, lot 1007, the source of the above provenance note.