Notes:
Example of the same pattern in famille verte porcelain
Very similar vases can be found in the collection of the V&A; one with a band of half-prunus blossom against a wave-pattern to the rim (276-1886) and an example with geometric hatch-pattern band also with a ‘G’ mark to the base from the Salting Bequest (C.783-1910). A similar pair from the collection of Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks (1826-97) are now in the British Museum (Franks.358.+) and a further example is illustrated in Jörg, Christiaan J.A. in collaboration with Van Campen, Jan (1997) 'Chinese Ceramics in the Collection of the Rijksmuseum', Phillip Wilson and the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, London and Amsterdam, p.259 plate 298.
The unusual ‘G’ mark can be found on other pieces, both blue and white and famille verte, exported to Europe during this period. Such examples include a pair of famille verte bottle vases in the collection of the Rijksmuseum and illustrated in the work detailed above (p.260, no.299); a pot in the collection of the Groninger Museum (Mello Backer Bequest 1899), and a famille verte hexagonal teacup at the British Museum, from the collection of Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks (Franks.894). Professor Jörg supports the theory of this ‘G’ mark corresponding with a particular person, probably a Dutch merchant in the 17th century, citing the similar use of a single initial to a group of blue and white Japanese apothecary bottles (p.259).
