A rare pair of famille rose 'standing cockerel' teapots and covers


Qianlong, circa 1740Naturalistically moulded with combs and wattles, the short yellow beaks forming the spout and the curled tail feathers the handle, the feathers vividly painted in purple, yellow, green and blue enamels, each cover with a small chick as the finial. Each 18cm (7in) long. (4).
|清乾隆, 約1740年 粉彩雞形壺一對Provenance: a distinguished European private collection來源：歐洲顯貴私人收藏Cockerel-shaped teapots of this type are rare. A similar famille rose cockerel teapot and cover, Qianlong, is illustrated by M.Cohen and W.Motley, Mandarin and Menagerie: Chinese and Japanese Export Ceramic Figures, Surrey, 2008, p.226, no.16.2. The authors note that the fashion for cock-fighting was popular in China as well as Europe, and these items would have catered to that interest.A closely-related pouring vessel is illustrated by W.R.Sargent, The Copeland Collection: Chinese and Japanese Ceramic Figures, Salem, p.162, fig.75; and another is illustrated by G.C.Williamson, The Book of Famille Rose, Rutland, p.196, pl.LX.