1985.R.870, Tazza, porcelain, Jingdezhen, China, c. 1752-1760

In the 18th century, Denmark traded extensively with Asia, importing numerous porcelain dinner services. Significantly, this design includes a ship at bottom center, as well as a portrait and cipher of Queen Juliana Marie, who married King Frederick V of Denmark in 1752. The central reserves are supported by the sea god Neptune and Aphrodite, who was born on the sea. Both hold scrolled shields bordered by flower-filled cornucopia. The left shield contains a portrait bust of Queen Juliana Marie who married King Frederick V of Denmark in 1752; the right shield displays her cypher. The depiction of Neptune and Aphrodite, in conjunction with the ship that bears Denmark's flag on the lower rim and the regal peacock at the top, symbolize the prowess of Denmark on the high seas and the beauty of her queen.

This tazza (footed dish with an upturned rim) is fluted to suggest a shell. The three squat paw-footed legs with lion masks are tame reminders of the heraldic lions supporting earlier Baroque furniture and smaller objects, such as the Reves' Danish Baroque silver tankard (see 1985.R.569). Although many examples from this service survive, the Reves piece is rare because of its form. Tazzas were used on European dining tables to hold a variety of foods. 

The penwork border of this dish features a peacock and three-masted Danish Man-of-War design; central cartouches contain a portrait bust of Juliana Marie of Denmark surmounted by a coronet and flanked by figures of Neptune and Amphitrite. The molded paw-footed legs have lion mask knees. The dish was probably commissioned by the Danish East India Company. Excerpt from -- Label text, Reves Galleries, Porcelain Gallery, 2018

In the 18th century, Denmark traded extensively with Asia, importing numerous porcelain dinner services.  Significantly, this design includes a ship at bottom center, as well as a portrait and cipher of Queen Juliana Marie, who married King Frederick V of Denmark in 1752.  The central reserves are supported by the sea god Neptune and Aphrodite, who was born on the sea.  These divinities, in conjunction with the ship on the lower rim and the peacock at the top, symbolize both the prowess of Denmark on the high seas and the beauty of her queen.

During the 18th century, Denmark's Asiatic and West Indies trade was extensive as well as highly profitable. Her flag can be seen flying from the three-masted man o' war flanked by  open-jawed fish in the lower border of the tazza. At the top of the gold enhanced black penwork border, a regal peacock proudly fans its tail. In the center of the circular dish, colorful figures of the sea gods Neptune and Amphitrite hold scrolled shields bordered by flower-filled cornucopia. The left shield contains a portrait bust of Queen Juliana Marie who married King Frederick V of Denmark in 1752; the right shield displays her cypher. The dish is fluted to suggest a shell. The three squat paw-footed legs with lion masks are tame reminders of the heraldic lions supporting earlier Baroque furniture and smaller objects, such as the Reves' Danish Baroque silver tankard. 

Dallas Museum of Art, The Wendy and Emery Reves Collection (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art, 1985), 202.

Until 1985: Emery Reves (1904-1983) and Wendy Reves (1916-2007) (owned jointly), La Pausa, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France [1]

From 1985: Dallas Museum of Art, The Wendy and Emery Reves Collection, gift of Wendy Reves (1916-2007) [1]

[1] According to: Olivier Meslay and Martha MacLeod, From Chanel to Reves (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art, 2015), 4-5.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art~Read more about Chinese Export Porcelain

Apply to objects where number equals 1985.R.870