1760s Ceramics

A fine and unusual Chinese Export blue and white decorated porcelain leaf-shaped dish or charger, Qianlong Period, mid 18th century, circa 1760, China. The dish or charger of intriguing leaf-shaped form, with serated edges, and set upon a short foot. The shape seemingly based on a Meissen design. The porcelain decorated with a courting scene of a couple in a garden setting. They are surrounded by flowering bushes and trees. Butterflies draw nectar from the flowers, while dragonflies flit above. In the foreground are a pair of very plump quail. Decorated in underglaze blue enamel on a white ground, the blue and white decoration actually is based an Kakiemon pattern of the same period. So in short, we have a Chinese porcelain piece based on a German Meissen form...