This porcelain spoon comprises of a simple oval shaped scoop with a handle and gilt-edged rims. It is decorated with motifs of a phoenix in flight. It is painted with an iron red head, bold green and red feathers and its ochre tail extends along the handle. It flies among a spray of pink and white peony with leaves. 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. Peranakan Chinese spoons were usually smaller, more graceful and delicate than those used by other Chinese to eat food. 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.
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