Chinese Export Porcelain Rose Verte Plates Painted With Flower Baskets, Yongzheng Period (1723-1735)

Details

Description

Exquisite Prosperity: Chinese Export Porcelain Famille Rose Plates with Flower Baskets
Set of Six.

This beautiful pair of Chinese Export … Read more Exquisite Prosperity: Chinese Export Porcelain Famille Rose Plates with Flower Baskets
Set of Six.

This beautiful pair of Chinese Export porcelain plates, dating from the Yongzheng period (1723–1735) of the Qing Dynasty, exemplifies the pinnacle of quality and refinement achieved in Famille Rose decoration. Created for the European market, these plates are rich with sophisticated colorwork and auspicious Chinese symbolism.

Design and Symbolism
The plates feature a complex and balanced decorative scheme:

Central Motif: The central well of the plate is dominated by an ornate flower basket, a popular and highly symbolic motif. The basket, often associated with the Daoist immortal Lan Caihe—who is often portrayed as a woman carrying a basket of flowers or fruit—symbolizes riches, good fortune, and a wish for long life (especially popular during the Spring Festival).

Cavetto and Border: The center is surrounded by a band of intricate iron-red diaper pattern—a dense, repeating geometric design—punctuated by oval cartouches. These panels are exquisitely painted with delicate Famille Rose flowing plants.

The Rim: The outer rim is decorated with ribbon-tied auspicious objects (such as scrolls or musical instruments), signifying scholarly pursuits and good wishes, bordered by a thin band of iron-red swirls.

Reverse: The reverse of the plate features simple, hand-painted iron-red plants, a typical decorative element for the period.

The use of the Famille Rose palette, characterized by soft, opaque enamels and the prominent pink derived from colloidal gold, was perfected during the Yongzheng era, making pieces from this period highly desirable for their delicate shading and fine painting.

Historical Context: The Zenith of Famille Rose
The Yongzheng period is regarded as the zenith of Famille Rose (or Fencai, meaning 'soft colors' in Chinese) porcelain production. Following its introduction during the preceding Kangxi reign, the technique—which utilized a revolutionary opaque white enamel to achieve subtle pastel shading—was refined at the Imperial kilns in Jingdezhen.

These Chinese Export wares met the growing demand from Europe’s affluent classes for luxurious, exotic table services. The combination of intricate Chinese decorative motifs, such as the auspicious flower basket and stylized diaper patterns, demonstrated a sophisticated blend of Eastern craftsmanship with a design balance appreciated by Western collectors.

Dimensions: 8 3/4 inches diameter × 1 inch high (22.23cm diameter).

Reference Notes
Chinese Export Porcelain: This plate is a high-quality example from the Yongzheng era, known for its particularly fine and delicate decoration, as opposed to the bolder styles of the later Qianlong period.

Catalogue Reference: The design is referenced in authoritative texts on Chinese Export ceramics: Nadler, Daniel, Porcelaines chinoises polychromes – Trois siècles de commerce sous la dynastie Qing (1644-1908) (Page 41, No. 15).

Symbolism: The central flower basket alludes to the Daoist immortal Lan Caihe and is a potent symbol of prosperity and good luck.

(Ref: NY10733-ncam) See less