Inventory no.: 1564

Straits Chinese Porcelain – Nonyaware

SOLD

Pair of Large White-ground Straits Chinese Plates

China for the Straits Settlements

circa 1890

diameter: 22cm (each)

This pair of nonyaware dishes or plates are larger than most extant examples. They show, in polychrome enamel against a white ground, a phoenix on a rock surrounded by pink and coral peonies, around a border decorated with pink lotus flowers and Daoist symbols. The rims of the reverse are decorated with flower sprays. The edges are scalloped and gilded.

The pair are in excellent condition – far better than most other extant examples – except that one plate has a small rim restoration. Other than this it is in near perfect condition. The other is in perfect condition: there are no chips, hairline cracks, fritting to the edges or enamel flaking or deterioration.

Plates such as these were commissioned from China by wealthy Straits Chinese or Baba families in Singapore, Malacca and Penang in the nineteenth and early twentieth century as part of larger sets for wedding banquets. The sets were made to Straits Chinese tastes and invariably feature bright colours, phoenixes and peonies.

The bases of both are stamped in red polychrome with the same highly stylised mark, which is either are factory or a reign mark.

Provenance

UK art market

Inventory no.: 1564

SOLD

to see other items of Straits Chinese interest.

A Straits Chinese bride and groom, Straits Settlements, circa 1920.