Mid 20th Century Turquoise Famille Rose Mun Shou Lidded Tureen

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This striking mid-20th-century Chinese porcelain covered tureen is an unusually decorative example of turquoise-ground Mun Shou ware.

The brilliant turquoise … Read more This striking mid-20th-century Chinese porcelain covered tureen is an unusually decorative example of turquoise-ground Mun Shou ware.

The brilliant turquoise ground is covered with exuberant famille rose floral decoration in pink, yellow, blue, green and white, framed by colorful geometric and auspicious borders. Particularly appealing is the dense arrangement of flowering branches across the body and lid—a treatment less commonly encountered than the more familiar Mun Shou patterns dominated by longevity characters and repeating medallions.

The compact covered form is also distinctive, with twin handles, a fitted domed lid and colorful ornamental borders continuing around the vessel. While turquoise Mun Shou porcelain can be found in bowls, plates, teapots and larger serving pieces, comparable examples combining this floral decoration with this particular covered form appear to be considerably less common.

Mun Shou, or “longevity,” porcelain belongs to a long Chinese decorative tradition incorporating auspicious symbols and motifs associated with long life and good fortune. This example dates to the mid-20th century and bears a red apocryphal Chinese mark on the underside referencing an earlier period.

A wonderfully colorful standalone decorative object as well as a functional covered serving piece.

Excellent vintage condition. See less