21/1989-10

Ceramics

Small plate made from hard paste porcelain with underglaze blue decoration, the central design shows an elegantly dressed woman and a small boy set in a landscape, the rim is decorated with a diaper pattern and floral panels. The plate is marked on the base with Chinese characters, possibly in imitation of a reign mark, but indecipherable, and was made in China c.1720.

plate
tea plate

21/1989-10

c.1720 (manufactured)

China (manufactured)

Georgian (1714-1837)

hard paste porcelain
glaze
pigment

painted
glazed
fired

Small plate with a flattened rim, made from hard paste porcelain with blue underglaze decoration. The central reserve or enclosed panel shows a woman sitting on a rock in a landscape setting or garden. A tree in blossom is shown growing behind her out of the rock. She wears a robe and holds a branch of blossom in her right hand.

To the left of the composition, a small boy is shown crouching with his arms outstretched and with draped sleeves hanging down. In the forefront there is a large rock and foliage.

The scene is framed by a narrow band. On the rim of the plate is a diamond diaper pattern with four flower panels, each containing a flower head and leaves, framed by a narrow and a broad curved line.

On the reverse of the rim are four emblems with ribbons wound above and below; these motifs are four of the 'eight Buddhist emblems'. Inside the foot on the underside of the plate are two concentric circles framing four Chinese characters. These marks are virtually illegible, but are probably an auspicious saying, or an imitation reign mark. The final character reads 'jade'.

The central reserve of the plate depicts an elegant lady seated on an ornamental rock in a landscape. A tree sprouts from the rock, and in the foreground is another rock with foliage. To the left of the composition is a small boy, crouching with his arms raised and his sleeves hanging down.

Diameter: 10.4cm

serving food
tea, coffee and chocolate drinking