This unusual Famille Verte Rose Enameled Porcelain platter dates from the Late Qing Dynasty (late 19th to early 20th century). With its smooth unmarred glaze this piece offers and excellent example of the classic Famille Rose Ginger Jar.
This late Qing dynasty platter is a vibrant example of famille rose porcelain, featuring a scene of the Emporer and Empress being fanned by their courtiers painted in bold enamels.
The platter is in excellent condition for its age, with a smooth glaze and vibrant, intact enamels. Minor wear is visible, consistent with its age. Every detail, from the expressions to the patterns on and folds of the figures’ robes, reflects the mastery of Qing porcelain.
Diameter 10"
Antique Famille Verte Rose Chinese Platter
As China opened up to the Western world through the Silk Route and fleets from Europe the demand for spices, salts, herbs and oil was fulfilled through the use of beautiful porcelain ginger jars. The exotic designs and vibrant colours were an instant hit with the European market and encouraged European porcelain makers to work to improve their own designs and colour palettes.
Porcelain that appears in the famille verte (“green family”) and famille rose (“pink family”) styles date back to the Ming Dynasty, but became formalized in the 16th century into the five-color enamel process dominated by rich, yet translucent, shades of green. The famille rose style followed in the 18th century and was so named for its characteristic opaque pink shade.
Famille rose porcelain, or fencai (粉彩), emerged in China during the Kangxi period of the Qing dynasty (1662–1722) and is celebrated for its vibrant overglaze enamels. This technique introduced a wider palette of soft, opaque colours, including the distinctive rose pink, allowing artisans to create intricate and naturalistic designs. Perfected in Jingdezhen, the porcelain capital of China, famille rose became highly sought after for its detailed imagery and symbolic motifs, blending traditional Chinese artistry with innovations influenced by Western materials and techniques.
This late Qing dynasty ginger jar is a vibrant example of famille rose porcelain, featuring a continuous celebratory scene painted in bold enamels. Human figures in colourful robes carry banners, parasols, and playing musical instruments together with the lotus motifs enhance the jar’s auspicious themes.
The jar is in excellent condition for its age, with a smooth glaze and vibrant, intact enamels. Minor wear is visible, consistent with its age, and the lid does not fit tightly, typical of export wares as they were often made separately. Every detail, from the expressions to the patterns on and folds of the figures’ robes, reflects the mastery of Qing porcelain.