This octagonal platter is decorated in vivid famille rose colors and underglaze cobalt blue with painted gold highlights. A large portion of the platter features the “tobacco leaf” pattern, with overlapping leaves issuing passion flower blossoms and large pink hibiscus flowers. At the center a female figure, possibly He Xiangu, one of the Eight Immortals of Taoist mythology, holds a staff and rides a leaf ornamented with further flowers. Despite the name, the “tobacco leaf” pattern was probably modelled after a plant indigenous to Southeast Asia or the Pacific Islands. The design may have made its way to China via textiles exported from Southeast Asia. Admired for its vibrant colours, the pattern was probably introduced during the early or mid- 18th century. Ceramics with the pattern were exported to Europe in large numbers well into the 19th century.
