Antique Hand Painted Porcelain Bowl. Tongzhi Period. China, XIX Century

This beautiful and delicate hand-painted porcelain bowl is an ancient piece that was made in China in the 19th century. At the bowls base we can see the Tongzhi mark (1861-1875) sketched in red ink on a bright blue background. The bowl is in great condition and shows no bumps, dents or cracks at all. It boasts a delicate lobed shaped and is painted by hand with a naturalist scene. Inside, the porcelain has been painted in a bright turquoise color that also embellishes the pieces base. The mark at the base indicates that this bowl was made during the reign of the Tongzhi Emperor, tenth emperor of the Qing Dynasty and the eight one who ruled over China. Tongzhi ruled over the country from 1861 until 1875 though he was greatly eclipsed by his mother, the widow empress Cixi. The bowl that we can see in the images was fired during this convulse era and is a fully original piece. The decoration reveals the hand of a skillful artist - the stroke, the composition and the taste for color are still impressively surprising. The White outside surface of this bowl is decorated with a nice scene depicting two cranes sitting under a peach tree. In Chinese culture, cranes symbolize good luck and are related to the wisdom of ancient men. On the other hand, the big peaches painted at the top of the bowl symbolize longevity. At the bottom, from the grey ground there the birds are sitting on grow orange mushroom and different kinds of flowers. The composition, full of beauty and freedom, turn this bowl into a very elegant piece. Because of its color and ancient age, this bowl is a very special article that deserves to become part of a good collection of antique porcelain. Measurements: Width: 4.1 in / 11.5 cm. Height: 2.9 in / 5.8 cm.