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Chinese Export Porcelain Lotus Leaf-Shaped Dish

$2,050
£1,542.49
€1,782.05
CA$2,878.15
A$3,109.35
CHF 1,654.20
MX$37,413.95
NOK 20,945.73
SEK 19,155.44
DKK 13,312.79

About the Item

Blooming Brilliance: A Famille Rose Lotus Leaf Dish This exquisite Chinese Export Porcelain Dish, dating to Circa 1765, is a masterwork of 18th-century ceramic design, shaped and painted to resemble a magnificent lotus leaf. The large saucer dish has an undulating rim formed by nine distinct lotus petals, each meticulously painted in graduating shades of pink and red with accents of green at the base to suggest the natural structure of the leaf. The exterior of the dish mirrors this detailed botanical painting. A notable feature is a single white flower within the border, executed in bianco sopra bianco (white on white) enamel, adding subtle depth and texture. The central circular well is framed by a delicate band of spearhead motif. The center itself depicts a charming Chinese garden scene rendered in the Famille Rose palette, featuring vibrant green rockwork, colorful flowering plants, and a distinctive gold and red zig-zag fence. Dimensions: 9 8 1 ​  inches diameter×1 4 3 ​  inches high. Condition: Good antique condition, with only very slight stacking rubs visible on the spearhead border, typical for a piece of this age. Historical Context: Nature, Trade, and the Famille Rose Palette This lotus-shaped dish is an outstanding example of the Chinese Export porcelain made in the Jingdezhen kilns for the wealthy European market during the height of the Qianlong Period (1736-1795). The Lotus Motif The lotus (Lian in Chinese) is one of the most important and revered motifs in Chinese culture. It symbolizes purity, enlightenment, and spiritual perfection because it rises, unsullied, from the mud. The shape of this dish—a fully opened lotus leaf—directly references this auspicious symbolism, appealing to both Chinese aesthetics and the Western fascination with Eastern nature and philosophy. The Famille Rose Revolution The rich decoration is executed in the Famille Rose (Rose Family) palette, which revolutionized porcelain decoration in the early 18th century. This palette is characterized by the use of an opaque rose−pink enamel derived from gold. It allowed artists to achieve a broader range of hues and subtle shading than previous palettes, creating the vibrant, naturalistic effects seen in the garden scene and the pink-to-red gradation on the petals. The Western Appetite for Novelty While many export pieces featured European forms, the Chinese workshops were also highly skilled at producing complex $\mathbfnovelty\ shapes$ like this lotus leaf. These unique forms, coupled with the exotic and colorful Famille Rose decoration of garden scenes, were highly desirable to European collectors who sought to fill their grand homes with spectacular and fashionable objects from the Far East. Pieces like this dish were considered luxury goods, blending Chinese craftsmanship with exotic flair for the Western dining table.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 1.75 in (4.45 cm)Diameter: 9.18 in (23.32 cm)
  • Style:
    Chinese Export (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1765
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Downingtown, PA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: NY9554B-nnai1stDibs: LU861039324362

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