Group of five Chinese export porcelain vessels including one barrel form teapot, two gravy or sauce boats, and two creamers, 17th to 18th century.

Provenance: From the Estate of C. Curtis "Curt" Dunnavan, Long Lake, Minnesota.

C. Curtis "Curt" Dunnavan (1926-2022) was a passionate world traveler and avid collector. It was through his travels that he was inspired to begin a lifelong relationship with the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia), becoming a major sponsor of the institute and facilitating the growth of their Asian art department, which is now one of the best in the country. His generous donations to Mia allowed them to establish a fund for the Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, one of the few endowed positions of this type in the museum field. He additionally served as a trustee of the institute, advocating for its operational growth. In its turn, the museum established a gallery named in his honor in recognition for his endowment fund and numerous contributions to their collection. The selections here showcase his talent and breadth of collecting, ranging from ancient statues to 19th-century woodblock prints. His appreciation for art persisted throughout his life and we are honored to offer items from his collection in this auction.
Height ranges from 5 to 5 3/4 in; width ranges from 6 1/4 in to 10 in; depth ranges from 3 1/2 to 4 3/4 in. There is wear throughout all vessels consistent with age and use. The creamer with floral decoration has been heavily restored. The upper rim shows extensive repairs and overspraying. Some hairline cracks are visible throughout the body. Wear to the footrim. The creamer with an armorial crest is in good condition with no visible restorations. There is a large firing flaw along the inside of the handle. The blue and white gravy boat appears to have extensive restorations throughout. Some areas of paint discoloration. The other gravy boat appears to be in good condition with some firing flaws and wear throughout. The lid of the teapot has been married with the body and is not original to it. There is one small crack to the upper rim of the teapot. Some light wear to the rim and inner rim of the lid where the two meet.