Antique Qianlong 18/19th Ennamelled Bronze Cantonese Plate Bats & Prunus Chinese China

Out of stock

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Condition Report: / / Overall Condition: restored piece at underside + 2 chips close to rim underside. Size: 227x30mm

A very nicely made piece of 18th century ennamel on bronze. Canton Qianlong.

18th or early 19th century

Provenance:

Formerly in a Portugese private collection

Symbolism

Bats – if five – “the Five blessings” of long life, health, riches, love of virtue, and a natural death.

Cloud

Clouds are considered lucky and so feature heavily in Chinese pictures and symbolism. This is most likely down to the obvious connection that clouds bring the much needed rain to water the crops. Dragons are often shown playing in the clouds as dragons are the masters of water and rain. A picture of bats flying among clouds is a wish for good fortune. Clouds of five colors represent the five blessings of life. Clouds are considered the union of yin and yang because they are a fusion of the elements of water and air, sky and earth. From this idea clouds can symbolize making love as the union of male and female.

Peony

Peony – Mu-Dan – Queen of Flowers, the peony is a emblem of wealth and distinction.

Source: Nilson, J. Gotheborg: Antique Chinese and Japanese Porcelain Collectors’ Help and Info Page. Retrieved from the Gotheborg website.