百子图 - 粉彩 - 標誌 - 瓷器

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Porcelain famille rose enamelled panel
“Cent Enfants au Jeu” (Baizi Tu)
Republic of China (1912–1949) or late Qing Dynasty style
Porcelain with original wooden frame
Dimensions with frame: 88 cm x 32 cm x 2.5 cm

This large vertical porcelain panel presents a lively and joyful composition illustrating the traditional highly cherished theme of Baizi Tu (百子圖), known as the “Tableau des Cent Enfants.”

The scene unfolds smoothly along a lakeside landscape lined with inscribed rocks, weeping willows budding, and floral touches. A group of vigorous young boys engage in various playful activities celebrating the innocence and vitality of childhood with several scenes.

Children joyfully bathe in the waters while others sail in a small boat under the shade of a willow, one of them holding a flower stem. on the shore, a boy tries his hand at fishing.
In the center, a group merrily plays around balloons (cuju ball game). Other children chase butterflies with a fan, pick herbs, or gather in small animated discussion committees.

The figures are executed with great expressiveness, characterized by round faces with fine features, traditional hairstyles with knotted buns (shatou), and rich tunics in contrasting colors (rose magenta, imperial yellow, cobalt blue, and ferric red).

In the upper left part, a poetic inscription in cursive script written in black ink formally identifies the subject: 百子圖 (Baizi Tu — The Tableau des Cent Enfants).
The inscription is flanked by an oval red artist’s seal at the top, and ends with a signature or dedication accompanied by a second red square seal placed beneath the text column, grounding the piece in the Jingdezhen porcelain painter tradition.

In Chinese pictorial and decorative art, the depiction of a multitude of masculine children playing freely is a powerful symbol of family prosperity, enduring lineage, and wishes for numerous and virtuous descendants. This type of decorative panel was traditionally gifted at weddings or major anniversaries to attract blessings of fortune and filial piety.

Technically, the soft and opaque enamel palette of the Rose Family, combined with naturalistic treatment of drapery and the finesse of linear details, testifies to the craftsmanship inherited from the great manufactories of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The reverse shows an antique assembly within its original wooden protection panel, confirming its function as an interior decorative wall screen.

Condition: Good overall condition. Some chipping on the frame.

Provenance: Kanaka The Collection, Portugal

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