18th Century Chinese Export Porcelain Dish Painted with Birds

Chinese Export Pseudo Tobacco Leaf Oval Dish, Circa 1765 The oval Chinese Export porcelain dish is painted in a variation of the Tobacco Le...

Chinese Export Large Underglaze Blue & White Porcelain Dish, Circa 1770 The large attractive Chinese Export Blue and White Porcelain dish is unusually painted with a rare design. T...

Chinese Export Famille Rose 'Precious Objects' Porcelain Dish, Qianlong Period, Circa 1765-1775 This superb oval dish is a quintessential example of Chinese Export porcelain create...

Chinese Export Blue & White Porcelain Dish with Buffalo and Deer, Circa 1770 The Chinese Export porcelain rococo oval dish has a wide diaper border with shaped panels of flowers. The central well depicts a lovely scene with a water buffalo and its calf grazing with a deer on the other side of a zig-zag fence. Perched in a tree is a large crane and a small bird flies above. It also features a Plum tree, Bamboo and a Pine tree, the three friends of winter. The Three Friends of Winter is an art motif that comprises the pine, bamboo, and plum. The Chinese celebrated the pine (松), bamboo (竹) and Chinese flowering plum (梅) together, for they observed that unlike many other plants these plants do not wither as the cold days deepen into the winter season. Together they symbolize steadfastness, perseverance, and resilience. While They are highly regarded in Confucianism as representing its scholar-gentleman ideal. Dimensions: 15 inches wide x 12 inches deep x 1 1/2 inches high Reference: In Chinese art and culture, the water buffalo symbolizes strength, endurance, hard work, prosperity, and a link to agriculture and rural life, often depicted as a mount for important figures or in scenes of everyday life. Here's a more detailed look at the symbolism: Agriculture and Rural Life: The water buffalo is deeply ingrained in Chinese agricultural traditions, as it was and continues to be a vital part of rice farming and the rural economy. Strength and Endurance: The buffalo's physical capabilities, particularly its strength and ability to work tirelessly, make it a symbol of these qualities. Benevolence and Patience: The water buffalo is also associated with benevolence and patience, reflecting the calm and steady nature of the animal. Guardian: The buffalo was seen as a guardian, stemming from the legend of Emperor Yu casting an iron ox to subdue floods. Mount for Important Figures: Water buffalo are often depicted as mounts for figures like Shou Lao, the God of Longevity, and in Daoist art...