A MONUMENTAL CHINESE PORCELAIN BLUE AND WHITE ARMORIAL CHARGER, QIANLONG - 37,8 CM A rare and exceptionally large 37.8 cm Chinese export porcelain charger An impressive large Chinese export porcelain charger, finely painted in underglaze cobalt blue with the celebrated “Madame de Pompadour” pattern, traditionally associated with the French market during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor. The centre is decorated with an elaborate flowering composition incorporating peony, chrysanthemum and other flowering plants, surrounded by luxuriant scrolling foliage. Four elaborate cartouches punctuate the border, alternating between a fish and a crowned eagle, within highly sophisticated European-inspired foliate ornament. The outer border is finely decorated with geometric and floral motifs. The combination of the large format, exceptionally elaborate decoration and distinctive European-inspired design makes this an especially desirable example of 18th-century Chinese export porcelain made for the sophisticated French market. THE "POMPADOUR PATTERN" The decoration is traditionally known as the “Madame de Pompadour” pattern. The fish has traditionally been interpreted as a reference to Madame de Pompadour's maiden name, Poisson (“fish” in French), while the crowned eagle has been interpreted as a reference to her husband and patron, King Louis XV. DIAMETER 37.8 cm DATING Qianlong period (1735-1796), circa 1745 EXPERT ATTRIBUTION The authenticity of this charger has been attested by an experienced Dutch specialist in Chinese porcelain. IMPORTANT AUCTION RESULTS The rarity and desirability of this particular blue-and-white pattern are well demonstrated by auction records. Bonhams, Los Angeles, 1–11 December 2023, lot 32: a smaller blue-and-white “Madame de Pompadour” dish, 22.8 cm diameter, sold for US$1,536. An identical pair of plates (22,5 cm) was sold at Christie’s (15 june 2005, Live Auction 5308 Art d’ Asie, lot 442) for 2160 euros. LITERATURE The pattern is extensively documented in the specialist literature on Chinese export porcelain, including: David Howard & John Ayers, China for the West, vol. II, London and New York, 1978, p. 443, no. 449. David S. Howard, The Choice of the Private Trader, London, 1994, no. 271, p. 229. Michel Beurdeley, Porcelain of the East India Companies, London, 1962, cat. 190, p. 194. J. G. Phillips, China Trade Porcelain, London, 1960, pl. 20, p. 89. Rose Kerr & Luisa E. Mengoni, Chinese Export Ceramics, V&A Publishing, London, 2011, p. 54, pl. 67. MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS A plate of this model, also in underglaze blue, is held on at the Peabody Essex Museum (Salem, USA), inventory number E81059. Another large plate is published by Jorge Welsh and Maria Antonia Pinto de Matos in The RA Collection of Chinese Ceramics : A collector’s Vision (T. III, no. 516, p. 248). They mention a plate held on at the Topkapi Saray Museum at Istanbul. Examples of the Pompadour service are recorded in important institutional collections, including the Musée Guimet in Paris, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Musée de Saint-Omer and Musée Grobet-Labadié in Marseille, among others. CONDITION Excellent condition for its age. There is only one miniscule chip at approximately 6 o’clock, which is visible from the reverse only. Considering the considerable size of the charger and the fact that it has survived almost 300 years, its overall condition is particularly impressive. Large Chinese export porcelain pieces of this period were inevitably exposed to the risks of long-distance sea voyages and subsequent use, making the preservation of a charger of this scale especially noteworthy. SHIPPING Professional custom packaging, shipped worldwide via UPS with full insurance and tracking. KEYWORDS China, Chinese export porcelain, Chinese blue and white porcelain, Qing Dynasty, 18th-century Chinese porcelain, Qianlong period, antique Chinese charger, armorial porcelain, heraldic porcelain, blue and white armorial dish, European aristocratic porcelain, Madame de Pompadour, Pompadour armorial, European heraldry, porcelain commissioned for the European market, Chinese export ceramics, antique Asian ceramics, Chinese antiques, Chinese works of art, collectible Chinese porcelain, antique blue and white charger, 中国外销瓷, 清代青花瓷, 十八世纪中国瓷器, 青花瓷盘, 青花大盘, 中国古董瓷器, 中国纹章瓷, 纹章瓷盘, 欧洲订烧瓷器, 外销青花瓷, 清乾隆时期, 清代外销瓷, 庞巴杜夫人, 中国古董艺术品, 中国陶瓷收藏, 中欧贸易瓷器, 中國外銷瓷, 清代青花瓷, 中國紋章瓷, 紋章瓷盤, 十八世紀中國瓷器, 龐巴杜夫人, 青花大盤. This is a particularly large and visually impressive example of the pattern, with strong decorative impact and excellent appeal to collectors of Chinese export porcelain.