19th Century, Chinese Export Famille Jaune Imperial Dragon Platter

This richly enameled porcelain dish is a 19th-century example of Chinese export ware in the Rose Medallion tradition, produced in the kilns of Jingdezhen for Western markets during t...

Chinese, 19th century. A fine quality antique Chinese famille rose medallion wash basin or centerpiece bowl. The center has a vivid immortal courtyard scene surrounded by a greek key border and 4 matching windows to the interior edge. The border adorned with butterflies, bird and floral motifs all enameled over a celadon base...

A refined rectangular cloisonné enamel tray on copper, its field finished in a saturated imperial yellow and centered by a roundel bearing a stylized hō-ō (phoenix) in swirling cloud...

This exquisite 19th-century Chinese Export Rose Medallion fruit basket and undertray exemplify the artistry and craftsmanship of traditional Chinese porcelain. The pierced fruit bask...

Beautifully painted dragon motif. No cracks, chips or repairs.

This is an antique decorative plate. A Chinese, ceramic display plate with Famille Jaune taste, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900. Stri...

This small and exquisite Chinese Canton Qianlong period enamel square dish features cut corners and is beautifully decorated with a five-clawed pink dragon surrounded by 18 blue ruyi clouds against a vibrant yellow background. The design is accented by two branches of peaches (or similar fruit) and two branches of peach blossoms (or other fruit blossoms), all framed by an intricate seaweed pattern border. In Chinese symbolism, five-clawed dragons are reserved exclusively for emperors, as the number five is considered sacred, representing the five elements. In contrast, four-clawed dragons are associated with kings, princes, and high-ranking officials, while three-clawed dragons are designated for the merchant class. This piece is crafted from enamel on brass, dating back to the Qianlong period (1736–1795), and is characterized by its hexagonal form and the distinctive Famille Rose palette, often referred to as "Canton enamel." Chinese painted enamel, commonly known as Canton enamel, derives its name from its principal manufacturing location, Canton. This technique was introduced to China in the 18th century, likely by French missionaries, and is inspired by the enameling techniques developed in Limoges, France around 1470. It is referred to in China as "foreign porcelain," suitable since much of it was made for export. During the 18th and 19th centuries, there was significant demand in the West for Chinese porcelain dinner sets...

Vibrant Prosperity: A Famille Verte 'Flower Basket' Dish from the Kangxi Golden Age This magnificent Chinese Export porcelain dish, dating to the height of the Kangxi Period (c. 1700-1710), is a resplendent example of the famed famille verte (green family) palette. This enameling technique, characterized by its brilliant, translucent greens, yellows, and blues, reached its zenith under the patronage of the Kangxi Emperor, ushering in a golden age of ceramic production at the imperial kilns in Jingdezhen (Guest and Gray). Auspicious Symbolism and Design Mastery The dish is a feast of intricate design and rich symbolism, centered on an openwork beribboned basket of peony and lotus flowers. The flower basket motif is highly auspicious in Chinese art, being one of the attributes of the Daoist Immortal Lan Caihe, and symbolizes longevity and good fortune (Sotheby's, Lot 657, 2015). This meaning is powerfully reinforced by the inclusion of a central shou character (寿) in the basket, the Chinese ideograph for Longevity, a core wish in Chinese culture for a long, healthy, and prosperous life (Metropolitan Museum of Art). The presence of the shou character, often incorporated into designs for Imperial birthday celebrations during this era, underscores the dish's grand and celebratory intent. The radial design radiates outward with petal-shaped reserves in the cavetto, each containing detailed flowering plants issuing from rockwork, all set against a signature pale-green stippled ground (Dizi). The border completes the composition with an ornate pattern of green trellis-work punctuated by iron-red flower heads, alternating with oval panels containing various Precious Objects (Ba Gu), further emphasizing wealth and good fortune. This large dish, at over 14 inches in diameter, was one of the exquisite items commissioned for the European export market, particularly by the Dutch East India Company (VOC), where its vibrant colors and complex iconography were highly prized by wealthy clientele (Guest and Gray). The reverse, painted in underglaze blue with delicate floral sprays, maintains a link to the more traditional Chinese aesthetic. This piece is a tangible embodiment of the technical sophistication and artistic brilliance that made Kangxi famille verte porcelain...