Title
Offering dish
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th centuries
Region
China made for Straits Settlements
Object Type
Material
Dimension
Object size: H: 4.8,
x Dia: 13.9 cm
x Dia: 13.9 cm
Accession No.
C-0016
Collection of
This coral offering dish has a foliated rim and is painted in polychrome enamels. The cavetto is richly decorated with Chinese symbolic motifs such as two green dragons chasing a pearl amidst clouds. A traditional emblem of the emperor while auspicious Buddhist symbols decorate the border. The coral red is considered rare for nonyaware or Straits Chinese procelain.Altar vessels like this example were used for making offerings of food, flowers and wine, and also to burn candles and incense sticks. They included dishes, bowls, cups and spoons. These vessels, usually made of porcelain, were laid out as if to present a meal to the ancestors.
