Early 20th Century Antique Chinese Famille Rose-Noire Porcelain Nine Sweetmeat Dishes

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A set of antique Chinese famille rose-noire (粉彩加墨彩) porcelain nine-piece combined square dishes (九子攒盘) for sweetmeats or nuts, each dish … Read more A set of antique Chinese famille rose-noire (粉彩加墨彩) porcelain nine-piece combined square dishes (九子攒盘) for sweetmeats or nuts, each dish decorated with floral patterns, smooth unglazed bases, late Qing Dynasty or early Republic period, late 19th/early 20th century, in overall good condition with minor surface/glaze wear, dirt residues and marks commensurate with age and use, some firing imperfections
Private New York City collection, originally acquired in Hong Kong
10 1/4 in. (26 cm) approx. width/depth

Nine sweetmeat dishes (九子攒盘): The ancient Chinese believed that the sky was round and the earth was square. The square nine-piece combination dishes represented the earth. Besides 6 and 8, Chinese people like 9 very much as 9 has the same pronunciation with 久 (Jiu, meaning everlasting). Since Nine, the highest single-digit number in base ten, stands for completeness and eternity, many emperors in ancient China love the number a lot. 'Nine Continents' is used to describe the large territory of an empire. The emperors Wore Nine-dragon Imperial Robes. Therefore, the set of nine sweetmeat dishes has a suspicious meaning of family reunion, health and longevity, and everlasting happiness. Since the Ming Dynasty, Chinese people welcomed and use fine cakes, sweetmeats and nuts to entertain the relatives and friends at their home during the New Year's Day, and this type of sweetmeat dishes was one of the necessary utensils for setting up the holiday tables for each family.
Originally there should be a wooden tray which was lost to hold these dishes for presentation or display. See less