Title
Bowl
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th century
Region
Kuala Lumpur, British Malaya
Dimension
Gross measurement: H:7.2 x Dia:16.6 cm
Accession No.
2009-03100
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Sunny Chan Hean Kee
This bowl is an example of Peranakan Chinese porcelain or Nyonya ware made from overglaze polychrome enamelled porcelain. It carries the reign mark “Da Qing Tongzhi nian zhi”, suggesting that the piece was manufactured during the reign of Emperor Tongzhi from 1862 to 1874. The decorative motifs include a pair of butterflies, one in orange with details in dark strokes and the other in green. Key frets form a red decorative border along the rim of the piece, as well as the base. Butterflies are symbols of joy, beauty and romance. When placed together with flowers, they signify marital happiness and fidelity.
