Qianlong era, circa 1750 saucer, tea bowl, and teacup with New Testament Subject, the Resurrection of Christ. Two different engravings might be the inspiration source for the present decoration. The first and most obvious, in Dr. C.J.A. Jorg’s opinion, is the Resurrection engraving from Jan Luyken. His engravings had already been used for the Nativity and the Crucifixion scenes also found on Chinese export porcelain. Teresa Freitas Morna (1996) mentions one engraving by Hieronymus Wierx (1553-1619), taken from the Jeronimo Nadal book Adnotationes et Meditationes in Evangelia quae in Sacrosancto (1594), as an alternative source of inspiration for this design. However, the distribution of the characters is more faithful to Luyken’s engraving and, as usual, the Chinese painter added a landscape to the scene and several Chinese style accessories to the figure. The rim of each piece done in a finely executed gilt spearhead border typical of mid-18th century Chinese export painting. This unusual trio is distinguishable by the fact that the individual who ordered the tea service of which they originally belonged had his initials inscribed in the shield of one of the sleeping Roman soldiers at the foot of the Cross. This highly important subject is represented in many museum collections, such as the Musées Royaux d’Art et d’Histoire in Brussels, Belgium; the Groniger Museum in Groningen, The Netherlands; and the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. It can also be found in many of the most important private collections, such as the Alves Collection, the Hervouet Collection, the R. Albuquerque Collection, the Conde Collection, and the Veiga Collection, among others. saucer, 4 3/4 in. Diam., tea bowl, 3 in. Diam. and teacup, 3 in. W. (includes handle). For further reading see Hervouet, p.266, fig.11.23.

Very good condition, with age appropriate wear