Kangxi tea bowls and dishes with floral decoration

Four Chinese blue and white tea bowls together with four dishes, Kangxi period (1661-1722), both sets with floral and foliate decoration, the tea bowls 5.5 cm high, 9 cm diameter. The dishes 2.75 cm high, 13 cm diameter. Provenance: A private collection of Kangxi porcelain, Regional Victoria, the core of this collection was formed in the 17th century in Holland by a family involved in the maritime East India trade, and has since been passed down through successive generations up to the current owners. The collection predominantly comprises sets of tea bowls and dishes for the Dutch market, many of which were intended to display as status symbols within a richly furnished house, rather than for daily use, and were a critical element in the spice trade.