CLEIJ ORIENTAL ART Specializing in Chinese and Japanese porcelain and ceramic works of art from the 17th and 18th century

CLEIJ ORIENTAL ART
Specializing in Chinese and Japanese porcelain and ceramic works of art from the 17th and 18th century

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Clobbered Ware

During the first half of the 18th century the demand for polychrome wares in Europe was quite high. At the same time, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) was actually having problems getting sufficient finely decorated wares, preferable tea wares and other uncommon shapes. The lack of sufficient imports of polychrome Chinese export porcelain caused a certain amount of scarcity in Europe, which raised the prices. Several Dutch Delftware factories (as well as other European factories) jumped into the market and decided to decorate the more readily available blank as well as blue and white Chinese export porcelain with fancy colorful enamels. Sometimes these enamels were added without much regard for the original decoration. It is nowadays believed that these first clobbered wares date from the beginning of the 18th century, mainly using porcelain from the reign of the Chinese emperor Kangxi (1662-1722) as their base material for the clobbering (over-decoration) process. In contrast to what their name suggests, early clobbered wares can be extremely refined. Some of the best polychrome Chinese export porcelain pieces ever produced actually have clobbered decorations. In the Netherlands the clobbering was done in Delft and in Amsterdam and the wares are often referred to as "Amsterdams Bont" (colorful wares from Amsterdam). Often typical European style decorations were added. Due to the drop in demand, later in the 18th century the clobbering practice degenerated and only comparatively simple over-decorated pieces can be found from this period. Please click on the thumbnail for additional pictures and information about an item.


Lidded milk jug with clobbered decoration of roses Kangxi, circa 1700 (clobbering 1st half 18th century) $395	Clobbered teacup with houses Qianlong, circa 1750 (clobbering 2nd half 18th century) $105	Five clobbered dishes with flower baskets Qianlong, circa 1750 (clobbering mid 18th century) $475	Finely clobbered Chinese bowl with man on ox Late Transitional or Kangxi, 17th century (clobbering 1st half 18th century) $295	Pair of clobbered Chinese teacups Qianlong, circa 1750 (clobbering mid 18th century) $165

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