This bowl is an example of Peranakan Chinese porcelain or Nyonya ware made from overglaze polychrome porcelain. It carries the reign mark “Xuantong nian zhi” with zero at the centre. This suggests that it could have been manufactured during the reign of Emperor Puyi from 1908 to 1911. The piece has everted gilt edged chrysanthemum shaped rims. The decorative motifs include a phoenix in flight. Its head and legs are painted in iron red and pink enamels. Its scaly body is painted in dark green with black details. The neck plumage is painted with pink and green and the tail in brown with black details. These motifs are set against a bright yellow background, which is considered an auspicious colour by the Peranakan Chinese. The rim has a border pattern consisting of symbols from the Eight auspicious Buddhist Emblems such as the lotus flower. These are interspersed with designs of trailing ribbons and painted against a rose pink background. This colour has meaning of happiness, longevity, youthfulness and innocence.
