Chinese Porcelain Dish, Ca. 1.900

Fine Chinese plate made of blue and white porcelain, highly decorative and in very good condition. Blue and white porcelain is typical of Chinese handcraft and it started being made in the ninth century. This technique reached its highest technical excellence in Jingdehzen during the reign of Kangxi, and nowadays many pieces are still produced for export. The plate is a good example of this porcelains beauty, and its elegant look joins with its ancient age and the stamp at the rear to make up a real exclusive piece. The stamp is very interesting: it belongs to Guangxu emperor, who was part of Qing Dynasty and reigned from 1873 to 1908 under his aunts guardianship. After his death he was succeeded by Puyi, the last emperor of China. The porcelain is extremely fine and is embellished by the hand-painted motives and decorations. The central motive depicts an impressive imperial dragon with all its classical features: fishs scales, catfishs moustaches, claws The dragon seems to be moving and twisting, and it covers nearly the whole surface. This animal has five fingers in each claw, so it is supposed to be a very lucky animal. As well as the good fortune it provides, in Chinese culture the dragon was also a symbol of imperial authority and the mythological responsible for rains and water. All around the beast we can see a nice border painted with marine snakes and flowers which cover the whole edge of the plate. If we turn the plate, at the rear we will see the Guangxu mark and three stylized lotus flowers painted on the porcelain. The lotus is another lucky symbol in Chinese iconography. As well as its beauty and its ancient age, this plate is also very interesting because its good condition, with no cracks or dents. All these features turn it into a very special article, which any lover of Oriental art and antique porcelains will surely appreciate as it deserves. Measurements: 230 mm diameter.