Description
Rare Chinese export Dutch armorial porcelain tea bowl and saucer, Jingdezhen, Qianlong dated 1748. With the Dutch arms of Hendrick Hesselink and merchant's mark. The coat of arms surmounted by a peacock crest above the date. Surrounded by a gilt spearhead border.
Provenance: Pebble Beach Antiques & Fine Arts, Pebble Beach, California, 25 September 2000; The Distinguished Collection of Leo & Doris Hodroff.
Reference: Fuchs & Howard, "Made in China," pg. 123, no. 74.
Howard & Ayers, "China for the West," Vol. II, pg. 402, no. 400.
Lot Essay:
This cup and saucer come from the later of two services made in successive years for Hendrick Hesselink (or for brothers Anton & Hendrick). The dexter shield displays the merchant's mark with initials H.H. and the sinister shield shows the arms of van Hesselink.
Merchant's marks were branded or painted on crates and bundles and were a means of identification and served a function akin to shipping labels. Wealthy merchants who wanted armorial porcelain but lacked arms either borrowed from families of the same name or used their marks or trade cards to create pseudo-armorial porcelain.
A similar cup, purchased at the same time as the present lot, was gifted to the Winterhur Museum and is illustrated and discussed in the Fuchs & Howard book about their collection.
(Cup) height: 1 1/4 in x diameter: 2 3/4 in. (Saucer) diameter: 4 1/2 in.
Provenance: Pebble Beach Antiques & Fine Arts, Pebble Beach, California, 25 September 2000; The Distinguished Collection of Leo & Doris Hodroff.
Reference: Fuchs & Howard, "Made in China," pg. 123, no. 74.
Howard & Ayers, "China for the West," Vol. II, pg. 402, no. 400.
Lot Essay:
This cup and saucer come from the later of two services made in successive years for Hendrick Hesselink (or for brothers Anton & Hendrick). The dexter shield displays the merchant's mark with initials H.H. and the sinister shield shows the arms of van Hesselink.
Merchant's marks were branded or painted on crates and bundles and were a means of identification and served a function akin to shipping labels. Wealthy merchants who wanted armorial porcelain but lacked arms either borrowed from families of the same name or used their marks or trade cards to create pseudo-armorial porcelain.
A similar cup, purchased at the same time as the present lot, was gifted to the Winterhur Museum and is illustrated and discussed in the Fuchs & Howard book about their collection.
(Cup) height: 1 1/4 in x diameter: 2 3/4 in. (Saucer) diameter: 4 1/2 in.
Condition
There are no cracks or restorations. Fleabite to small chips to the rims of both the cup and saucer. Loss to gilt along the very edges of the rims. Light wear to the footrims.
Buyer's Premium
30%
Rare Dutch Armorial Cup & Saucer w/ Merchant Mark
Estimate $400-$800
Starting Bid
$200
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This auction is curated by:
Sean BlanchetAsian Art Specialist
Robert SnellPaintings and Sculpture Specialist
Leo & Doris Hodroff Chinese Export Collection
Nov 12, 2026, 11:00 AM ESTSt. Paul, MN, United States
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