Two rare 'Famille rose' export plates with Venus and Mercury and Apollo and probably Daphne

Description:

China, Yongzheng/early Qianlong period
D. 23,4 cm
Depiction of Venus and Mercury sitting on a rock beneath trees, framed by alternating branches of peonies and chrysanthemums. The second plate shows the scene with Apollo, the son of Zeus, who is clearly recognisable by his lyre, with which he won numerous music competitions against mortals. Apollo is known for his many love affairs, but the young woman depicted is not clearly identifiable; during the exhibition "The China Trade" (Royal Pavilion, Brighton, 1986, no. 122) it was surmised that she could be Daphne.
German private collection, assembled before 2007
Cf. F. and N. Hervouet, La porcelaine des Compagnie des Indes a decor occidental, p. 307, fig. 13.62, for a ähnliches Exemplar, which was categorised as äußerst rare. It was later sold at Sotheby's Monaco, "Porcelaine de Chine a decor occidental - Collection Francois Hervouet", 22 January 1987, lot 1677 - Few very small chips under the rim, in good condition