Pottery A ‘Chilong’ and bat “Mille fleurs” brush washer (No reserve price)
03
days
01
hour
44
minutes
12
seconds
 | €45 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €42 | |
| €39 | |
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 142857 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
A porcelain pottery Chilong and bat Mille Fleurs brush washer from 20th‑century China, decorated with dense famille rose blossoms and high‑relief dragon and bat motifs, measuring 115 mm by 130 mm, in good condition with a repaired dragon, originating from a German private collection and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity and export license.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
ITEM: A ‘Chilong’ and bat “Mille fleurs” brush washer
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Chinese
PERIOD: 20th Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 115 mm x 130 mm
CONDITION: Good condition, dragon repaired
PROVENANCE: Ex German private collection, acquired before 1990s
Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license.
Crafted in 20th-century China, this decorative porcelain brush washer (bi wash) exemplifies a continuation of refined imperial ceramic traditions, tailored for the scholar's desk or refined collector displays. The body features the celebrated Mille Fleurs (Wanhua or "Ten Thousand Flowers") motif rendered in vibrant famille rose enamels. Dense, overlapping blooms—including chrysanthemums, peonies, lotuses, and lilies—completely cover the exterior surface, leaving virtually no white space visible and creating a lush tapestry of color that symbolizes eternal spring, beauty, and abundance.
Adding dramatic tactile contrast to the flat, enameled porcelain ground are sculpted, high-relief elements applied directly around the vessel’s rim and shoulder. A sinuous, hornless dragon known as a Chilong is depicted crawling along the lip, its arched body rendered in relief or contrasting enamels to convey agility and vital energy. Nearby, a stylized bat (fu) is applied or painted in flight, creating an auspicious pair of motifs; the dragon represents strength and vitality, while the bat serves as a visual pun for good fortune and happiness due to the homophonous pronunciation of "bat" and "blessing" in Mandarin.
While rooted in decorative styles perfected during the High Qing Dynasty under the Qianlong reign (1736–1795), 20th-century artisans revisited these complex techniques with modern refined glazes and expressive modeling. The combination of dense, labor-intensive famille rose painting with three-dimensional sculptural accents highlights the enduring craftsmanship of Republic-period and later 20th-century workshops. Functionally designed to hold water for rinsing calligraphy brushes, the piece bridges utilitarian scholar’s studio heritage with complex porcelain art.
Seller's Story
Your Antiquarian offers ancient art and ancient coins. Our main objective is to offer the highest quality at the best price respecting and strictly complying with the laws of heritage protection and UNESCO heritage norms. Therefore, all the pieces that are published come from private collections in which the provenance can be checked or international auctions. All our antiquities and coins are accompanied by their Certificate of Authenticity. We have a no quibble 90 day return policy. At Your Antiquarian we are committed to helping disadvantaged groups and for this reason a portion of each purchase is donated to charities to help people in need.
Translated by Google TranslateITEM: A ‘Chilong’ and bat “Mille fleurs” brush washer
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Chinese
PERIOD: 20th Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 115 mm x 130 mm
CONDITION: Good condition, dragon repaired
PROVENANCE: Ex German private collection, acquired before 1990s
Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license.
Crafted in 20th-century China, this decorative porcelain brush washer (bi wash) exemplifies a continuation of refined imperial ceramic traditions, tailored for the scholar's desk or refined collector displays. The body features the celebrated Mille Fleurs (Wanhua or "Ten Thousand Flowers") motif rendered in vibrant famille rose enamels. Dense, overlapping blooms—including chrysanthemums, peonies, lotuses, and lilies—completely cover the exterior surface, leaving virtually no white space visible and creating a lush tapestry of color that symbolizes eternal spring, beauty, and abundance.
Adding dramatic tactile contrast to the flat, enameled porcelain ground are sculpted, high-relief elements applied directly around the vessel’s rim and shoulder. A sinuous, hornless dragon known as a Chilong is depicted crawling along the lip, its arched body rendered in relief or contrasting enamels to convey agility and vital energy. Nearby, a stylized bat (fu) is applied or painted in flight, creating an auspicious pair of motifs; the dragon represents strength and vitality, while the bat serves as a visual pun for good fortune and happiness due to the homophonous pronunciation of "bat" and "blessing" in Mandarin.
While rooted in decorative styles perfected during the High Qing Dynasty under the Qianlong reign (1736–1795), 20th-century artisans revisited these complex techniques with modern refined glazes and expressive modeling. The combination of dense, labor-intensive famille rose painting with three-dimensional sculptural accents highlights the enduring craftsmanship of Republic-period and later 20th-century workshops. Functionally designed to hold water for rinsing calligraphy brushes, the piece bridges utilitarian scholar’s studio heritage with complex porcelain art.
Seller's Story
Your Antiquarian offers ancient art and ancient coins. Our main objective is to offer the highest quality at the best price respecting and strictly complying with the laws of heritage protection and UNESCO heritage norms. Therefore, all the pieces that are published come from private collections in which the provenance can be checked or international auctions. All our antiquities and coins are accompanied by their Certificate of Authenticity. We have a no quibble 90 day return policy. At Your Antiquarian we are committed to helping disadvantaged groups and for this reason a portion of each purchase is donated to charities to help people in need.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Century/timeframe
20th Century
Name of object
A ‘Chilong’ and bat “Mille fleurs” brush washer
Acquired from
Private collection
Year acquired
2025
Material
Pottery
Country acquired from
Germany
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Antique market
Previous owner - year acquired
1970
Previous owner - country acquired from
Germany
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
