Plate (2) - Porcelain

Pair of porcelain plates / dishes, British East India Company, Qing Dynasty, circa 1790 – China

Material: Porcelain
Period: Qing Dynasty, 1790
Country of origin: China
Good condition for its age and use
Dimensions: 4 x 26 cm.

Magnificent pair of octagonal Chinese export porcelain dishes of the Rose Family type from the Qianlong period (1736-1795). These dishes, with their octagonal profile —a design highly valued in the export market of the time—, are adorned with a gilded edge decorated with floral motifs, scrolls and garlands in cobalt blue and purple pink. The floral background, in shades of pink/purple and cobalt blue, presents the color palette characteristic of the Rose Family. Gold details enrich and complete the aesthetic set.

Famille Rose is the name given in Europe to a certain type of Chinese porcelain, which from the 18th century included glazes of this color in the previous palette of greens, yellows, reds and blues. Today, Rose Family porcelain pieces are highly valued for their beauty and fine decoration.

It emerged at the end of the Qing Dynasty, specifically during the reign of Emperor Kangxi, around 1720, and reached its peak under the Yongzheng and Qianlong emperors. Although in China it is known as fencai (powder colors), since the pieces have a soft and matte appearance; it arrived in Europe as “Famille Rose” in the 19th century by the French collector Albert Jacquemart. Rose Family porcelain included glazes of this color in the prior palette of greens, yellows, reds and blues. The key advance was Cassius purple, a pigment derived from colloidal gold invented in Europe in the 17th century. Jingdezhen imperial kiln artisans adapted this color to create the characteristic pink glaze.

In the Qianlong period (1736–1795) decoration became more exuberant and complex, where the design of the “hundred flowers” gained popularity, with glazes covering the entire surface of the piece. The most distinctive feature of this style is the use of a pink derived from colloidal gold (Cassius purple), offering tones from soft carmine to pale pink.

It developed a realistic style thanks to the ability to mix colors, which allowed representation of both flowers, especially peonies, birds and insects with botanical realism, as well as depictions of court life and human figures with faces and garments meticulously shaded. Due to the density of glazes over the glaze, motifs often have a slight relief perceptible to the touch.

This style was highly valued both at the imperial court and in the export market to Europe during the 19th century, which is why millions of pieces were manufactured in the 18th century exclusively for export by the East India Company. Today these porcelain pieces are highly valued for their beauty and fine decoration.

The British East India Company (1599-1874)

The British East India Company was founded in 1599 by English merchants to trade with the East Indies, breaking the Dutch monopoly on the spice trade. In 1600, it received a Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth I granting it the commercial monopoly with that region for 15 years.

Over time, it became a joint-stock company dominated by wealthy merchants and aristocrats, and although the British government did not own shares, it did exert indirect control. The company came to handle half the world trade, especially of cotton, tea, silk, opium and salt.

In 1702, it merged with a rival company and became a major commercial and territorial power in India, with its own army and governmental functions. Its effective rule in India began in 1757 and ended in 1858, when, after a rebellion, the Crown took direct control through the Government of India Act. Finally, due to financial problems and political changes, the Company was dissolved in 1874, and its functions were absorbed by the British government.

It was created fundamentally to trade with the East Indies, especially India and China. It traded in products such as spices, tea, silk, cotton, salt, opium… It came to control certain territories in India, acting as a kind of private government, with its own armies, laws and administrative system, which allowed it to play a key role in the expansion of the British Empire in Asia.

Although its main function was not artistic, the Company had an important impact on art, mainly indirectly, as it sponsored artworks, fostered the fusion between European techniques and Eastern styles, and promoted the export of art, textiles and exotic objects that influenced European fashion and design of the time.

The shipment of the product will be paid by the buyer according to the dimensions, weight and destination. The shipping costs include professional, custom-made packaging; and personalized shipping, with tracking number and warranty.

The buyer will be responsible for paying import duties and related taxes in the destination country, if any. Please note the seller’s disclaimer of liability regarding possible customs charges, as these are charged in the destination country and the amount payable is determined by that country’s customs. If an export permit is required, the costs are borne by the buyer. The cost depends progressively on the value of the work to be exported.