Plate (3) - Porcelain - Qianlong plates

3 plates with a garden scene of flowers and birds
Qing Dynasty, Qianlong period (1736–1795), circa 1740–1750
China (Jingdezhen kilns), commissioned porcelain for the European market (East India Company)
Hard-paste porcelain; underglaze blue overglaze with polychrome Rose Famille and gilding on the glaze
2x: 22.5 cm diameter x about 2.5 cm height
1x: 25 cm x 18 cm x 3 cm

This group testifies to the golden age of porcelain trade between China and the West. It offers an excellent example of the stylistic transition where the taste for blue and underglaze red Imari gradually gives way to the infinite, luminous palette of Rose Famille enamels, much prized by European aristocracy in the mid-18th century.

The octagonal dinner plates with slightly wavy (multi-lobed) rims perfectly illustrate so‑called “China-Imari” porcelain, enriched by the delicate nuances of Rose Famille. This hybrid style combines the chromatic structure of Japanese Imari (cobalt blue, iron red, and gold) with the introduction of opaque pink and violet enamels developed under the Yongzheng Emperor and widely disseminated under Qianlong.

The main scene centers around an imposing Chinese scholar’s rock in a garden, painted in intense cobalt blue with subtle shading. From this rock rise lush, winding branches of peonies in full bloom, rendered with pink, white, and fresh greens. On the left, a blue cobalt-colored barrier or terrace bears carved swastika motifs, a traditional symbol of good omen and eternity in China. Two long-beaked birds, resembling cranes or stylized herons (symbols of longevity and purity), animate the foreground.

The rim is separated from the basin by a blue trellis-geometric border with floral reserves. The exterior decor repeats an alternation of scrolling floral motifs (peonies and stylized lotuses) and blue wave or draped motifs inspired by “Imari,” all encircled by a fine edge painted with iron red on the outer filet.

Very good condition for mid-18th-century everyday ware. The Rose Famille enamels retain remarkable freshness, with their relief and original liveliness intact. Slight wear from normal use of the original gilding, notably on the barrier contours and petal veins.
The reverse features a monochrome white-blue glaze typical of Jingdezhen production of this period, with small firing specks.
Some nicks along the outer edge (wing tips), with no structural impact on the integrity of the pieces. No restoration or major cracks visible. UV checked.

Provenance: Kanaka The Collection, Portugal
Shipped with UPS and insurance