A rare and extensive blue and white 'Romance of the Western Chamber' dinner-serviceQianlong, circa 1740Each piece vividly painted with a scene from the Romance of the Western Chamber, depicting scholar Zhang playing the guqin while Yingying and Hongniang listen, comprising: two tureens, covers and stands; two tureen stands; two butter dishes, covers and stands; two sauce boats, covers and leaf-shaped stands; nine small circular dishes; five small foliate-rim dishes; one hot plate; six meat platters; five large circular dishes; nine circular plates; eleven foliate rim dishes; two very large foliate rime plates; seven large foliate rim plates; fifty one foliate rim plates. The largest stand, 44cm (14 1/3in) wide. (124).注脚清乾隆，約十八世紀四十年代 青花西廂記人物故事圖餐具一組Provenance: a European private collection來源：歐洲私人收藏Each piece depicts scenes from the popular 13th century drama Xixiang Ji (西廂記), or 'The Romance of the Western Chamber'. The play narrates a secret love affair between the young scholar Zhang Sheng, and Cui Yingying, daughter of a chief minister. Although scholar Zhang and Cui Yingying fell in love with each other at a Buddhist monastery, Cui Yingying's mother disapproved of the match because of Zhang's low station. Yingying's maid Hongniang, however, took pity on them and arranged to bring them together in a secret union. When Yingying's mother discovered what had happened, she reluctantly agreed to a formal marriage on the condition that Zhang must pass the Civil Service examination. To the joy of the young lovers, Zhang Sheng passes, is appointed to high office, and the two are finally married.Compare with a very similar blue and white dinner service, Qianlong, but slightly smaller with 120 pieces, which was sold at Sotheby's New York, 21 January 2011, lot 27.