Qianlong Era, circa 1740-50 historical subject painted in Holland of a Trading Scene and featuring the Arms of the City of Brussels at 12 o'clock and a seal of a driver leading a team of horses captioned "Caro de Oro / Fabrica de Brusela." Until quite recently, the design on this plate was thought to be “unique” (see Dr. C.J.A. Jorg, Chine de Commande from the Royal Museum of Art and History in Brussels, pp. 284-285, fig. 117), as the only known example was the one in the Royal Museum of Art and History in Brussels, Belgium, which had been donated to the museum back in 1910. Miraculously, an additional six examples were discovered in the early 21st century, having been stored in a barrel in the Belgian countryside for centuries. To date, only one of these six plates has ever been offered for sale. See Rob Michiels Auctions, Bruges, Belgium, February 11, 2017 sale, lot 239, https://www.rm-auctions.com/en/asian-arts-feb-2017/5504-a-rare-chinese-famille-rose-european-subject-clothtraders-plate-qianlong-ca-174011). The Chinese export porcelain plate was decorated in Europe in various overglaze enamels. In the central field is a painted quay with buildings and the sails of a ship. At the right side stand some merchants, on the left side a cloth vendor, surrounded by his assistants, is showing his merchandise. Prices are written on the piece of cloth he holds. In the middle foreground is a cartouche with a coach and a border text reading “CARO DE ORO FABRICA DE BRUSELA.” On the border are three floral sprays and on top the coat of arms of the City of Brussels. The central scene and the arms are painted in Europe and it is assumed that the plate was ordered as a gift for business associates or clients by a merchant in Brussels camlet, a high-quality fabric. One of the markets for this fabric was Spain, and the Spanish inscription CARO DE ORO referred to the type of cloth as well as the golden-painted coach in which it was transported. The source of this design appears to be a copper plate engraved with it that is in the collection of the Museum de Lakenhal in Leiden, The Netherlands (inv. no. 11056). 9 in. Diam. For further example, see Jorg, "Chine de Commande from the Royal Musel of Art and History in Brussels Collection, pp.284-85, fig.117; Hervouet, p.369, fig. 16.15. other example in; Musee royaux d'arte et d' Histoire, Pavillion chinois, Brussels.

Museum quality restoration