Delicate Pink Family Porcelain Dish, very well preserved. China, 19th Century

Fine antique white porcelain plate, decorated by hand and in very good condition. The plate was made in China in the 19th century and its design belongs to the style known as Famille Rose. The decoration is only painted on one side of the plate. The other side is white and bears the furnace mark, a brownish color produced by the heat generated inside the furnace during the firing process. Famille Rose porcelain was developed by the Qing dynasty which held power in China from the 17th century to 1912, when the Last Emperor abdicated after the Revolution came. The decoration of this plate shows four scenes separated by flowery garlands and with a floral motive in the center. The top and bottom sections contain the main scenes, both depicting groups of traditionally dressed figures. The side sections show two images with small birds flying or sitting on the branches of a tree. The top picture depicts a relaxing scene with an ancient man (probably a relevant character) lying in a garden. The man is served by two younger men and is looking at a group of two women (young and old, respectively) located to the left. The opposite scene shows a group of women relaxing in a room: the group is composed of young and old women who seem to be reading and commenting on two manuscripts. The four scenes stand out for their attention to detail, their amazing color and the accuracy of the line, features that reveal the hand of a skillful artist. This awesome plate is a very special piece, worthy of a great collection of oriental antiques. Measurements: Diameter: 8 in /20.5 cm.