A rare pair of Cornelis Pronk 'Four Doctors' bottle vases

A rare pair of Cornelis Pronk 'Four Doctors' bottle vases

This pattern, known as 'The Four Doctors' (and sometimes referred to as 'Doctor's visit to the Emperor'), is one of several that were commissioned by the VOC (Dutch East India Company) from Dutch artist Cornelis Pronk (1691-1759). This particular design is the second that Pronk created for the VOC (the first was 'The Parasol Ladies') and was approved in 1735. It was sent to China via Batavia (now Jakarta) where it arrived in 1737. The pattern was executed in China as 'chine de commande' (Chinese porcelain by order) and sent back to Holland in 1738 and 1739. The Four Doctors pattern was executed in three styles; a famille rose version, an underglaze blue version and also as an imari pattern. A large variety of forms was produced including tea and dinner services, garnitures ('mantlepiece sets') and vases. Even a water fountain with wash basin was made. The Cornelis Pronk designs, although received with much favour in the Dutch market, proved too costly an operation for the trading company, so production halted in 1740. This bottle vase was produced in at least three sizes, the smaller being ca. 18.5 cm high, the medium size ca. 23 cm and this, the largest at 28 cm high.