Title
Saucer
Year/Period
Mid-late 19th century
Region
China
Material
Dimension
Gross measurement: H: 2.,
3 Dia: 10.3cm
3 Dia: 10.3cm
Accession No.
2011-02555
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Agnes Tan Kim Lwi in memory of Tun Tan Cheng Lock.
This white ground saucer is decorated with motifs of a phoenix amongst peony flowers. The phoenix is an auspicious symbol in the Chinese culture representing beauty, grace, high virtue, the bride and the Empress. Likewise, peonies are auspicious symbols that symbolise spring, love, beauty and good fortune. It also features the swastika, one of the ten longevity symbols. Such overglaze polychrome enamelled porcelain or Nonyaware could be part of the elaborate 'tok panjang' dinner service which refers to dining at home on special occasions. Such a dinner service could comprise several hundred to several thousand pieces of plates, bowls and spoons of varying sizes.
