A rare Chinese Export painting of 'Table Mountain', China, circa 1800.

Oil on canvas. In Chinese original frame. Depicting six ships flying Danish, American, English and Swedish flags. The Swedish ship appears to be shooting a salute while setting sails, the background with a view of Cape Town nestled under a dramatic Table Mountain rising to the clouds. Measure canvas 59x46 cm. Measure with frame 67.5x54 cm.

Crazing, wear, surface dirt.

Provenance

The Collection of G. B. Sabelström (1888–1944). Sabelström worked for the Indian Brewery/United Breweries and lived in Shanghai from the 1920s up until his death in 1944. He was an important art collector and a member of The Royal Asiatic Society in Shanghai that was closely related to the Shanghai Art Museum. As he passed without heirs, he left his collection to Erik Dahl (1896-1979), a Swedish agent for the Swedish paper industry that came to be stationed in Shanghai and Kobe from the 1920s and onwards. Erik Dahl returned to Sweden by the Trans-Siberian Railway and the collection was sent by sea to Sweden after World War II. Thence by descent.

To see other lots sold from this collection, se Bukowskis Sale 641, lot no 779-785.

Label to the back, that reads 'belongs to C.H. Mannerstråhles collection of paintings. One of 14 paintings.

The painting is listed in the 1918, Estate inventory over Colonel and Carl Henrik Mannerstråle (1829-1918). 12 paintings from the East India Company Days.

Exhibitions

Compare with a painting of Capetown/Table mountain in the Collection of the Peabody Museum, Salem. Depicted in The China Trade, Carl L Crossman, page 420.

More information

Cape Town was the midway resting point in the six-nine month maritime journey between Europe and Canton and hence was a familiar sight to the traders. Initially it was the Dutch fleet that took control of the territory, but later it became British domain. The motif can be found on Chinese Export Paintings as well.

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