Large Chinese famille rose ‘mandarin’ punch bowl, Qianlong period (1736–1795) A finely decorated Chinese export porcelain punch bowl, painted in famille rose enamels in the so-called mandarin palette. The exterior is richly adorned with a continuous series of figural scenes depicting elegant ladies and attendants in a garden setting. Among the scenes is a charming depiction of figures gathered around a table with a bird in a cage, alongside further vignettes of conversation and leisure. These scenes are set within shaped cartouches reserved on a densely gilt ground, interspersed with additional panels of birds and flowering branches. The palette includes soft pink, iron-red, yellow, green and turquoise enamels, enhanced with gilding. The interior is decorated with a small floral sprig at the center and a delicate gilt border at the rim. Diameter: 26 cm. Condition: with two hairline cracks; otherwise in good condition with minor wear to the enamels and gilding consistent with age.