A Large Famille rose enamelled porcelain fish bowl of the Tongzhi period
Porcelain
84 x 84 x 70 cm
33 1/8 x 33 1/8 x 27 1/2 in
excluding carved wooden stand.
33 1/8 x 33 1/8 x 27 1/2 in
excluding carved wooden stand.
HUDI.0002
A rare large Chinese famille rose enamelled porcelain fish bowl of the Tongzhi period (1856 - 1875 CE) of the the late Qing Dynasty. Flared rim, tapered body, rinsing on...
A rare large Chinese famille rose enamelled porcelain fish bowl of the Tongzhi period (1856 - 1875 CE) of the the late Qing Dynasty. Flared rim, tapered body, rinsing on a carved wooden stand and richly decorated with overgrazed enamel. The exterior of the body are richly decorated with polychrome figural scenes of performing operas. Differentiated with typical Chinese figures painted on the body, figures with brownish-yellow hair combed in the form of fig might have presented western envoys. On the left scene, figures depicted on the central part of the upper decorative band framed by two traditional Chinese columns, portraying Chinese ministers are accompanying foreign envoys are sitting inside a building to admire the battle scene of the opera performance.
Floral patterns decorated on the wide rim, interior spaces of some exported famille rose enamelled fish bowls of the 19th century are decorated with goldfish and sea foliage, but their exterior scenes are not exclusively decorated as this fish bowl. It is clear that on this ware, the painter aimed in emphasising the scenes that decorated in details on the exterior body. Its upper and bottom bands decorated in traditional Chinese motifs that are commonly seen on the large wares of 18th and 19th century that designed to be exported to the West.
Highly decorative porcelains designed for West were produced throughout the 19th century, they were requested in large quantities together with the blue and white wares in the Kangxi style. This rare piece of fish bowl of TongZhi period is among the most representative pieces of exported porcelains for the West in the late Qing Dynasty. Colourful decorations covers most of the surface of the piece is one of the biggest variations between the Chinese-taste works and these created for exports. Chinese-taste pieces carted for domestic consumption are known for light colour and simpler patterns in the emphasis on flower, landscape or Buddhist scripts. Detailed figural depictions and large size are a rarity among its contemporary pieces of exported porcelain.
The six Chinese character reign marked on the iron Red inscribed on the body, ‘大清同治年制’, Da Qing TongZhi Nian Zhi , are well written in the style of Tong Zhi script.
Floral patterns decorated on the wide rim, interior spaces of some exported famille rose enamelled fish bowls of the 19th century are decorated with goldfish and sea foliage, but their exterior scenes are not exclusively decorated as this fish bowl. It is clear that on this ware, the painter aimed in emphasising the scenes that decorated in details on the exterior body. Its upper and bottom bands decorated in traditional Chinese motifs that are commonly seen on the large wares of 18th and 19th century that designed to be exported to the West.
Highly decorative porcelains designed for West were produced throughout the 19th century, they were requested in large quantities together with the blue and white wares in the Kangxi style. This rare piece of fish bowl of TongZhi period is among the most representative pieces of exported porcelains for the West in the late Qing Dynasty. Colourful decorations covers most of the surface of the piece is one of the biggest variations between the Chinese-taste works and these created for exports. Chinese-taste pieces carted for domestic consumption are known for light colour and simpler patterns in the emphasis on flower, landscape or Buddhist scripts. Detailed figural depictions and large size are a rarity among its contemporary pieces of exported porcelain.
The six Chinese character reign marked on the iron Red inscribed on the body, ‘大清同治年制’, Da Qing TongZhi Nian Zhi , are well written in the style of Tong Zhi script.