Chinese famille verte & aubergine export plate luohan medallion and floral panels, 19th C

Introduction to Famille Verte Porcelain

Famille verte is a style of Chinese porcelain that became prominent during the Kangxi period (1661–1722) of the Qing dynasty. It is distinguished by its use of green overglaze enamels, often combined with yellow, red, blue, and black to create vivid, multi-coloured designs. Evolving from the earlier wucai technique, famille verte decoration typically features floral motifs, landscapes, and scenes from literature, applied with precision and clarity over a white-glazed surface.

Description of the Plate

Made in the late 19th century for export, this Chinese porcelain plate is decorated in overglaze famille verte enamels with extensive use of leaf green, aubergine, and gilt. The central medallion depicts a seated Buddhist luohan figure, shown in coral and turquoise robes and holding twin flywhisks, a symbol of protection and spiritual authority.

Surrounding the figure are six alternating cartouches arranged on the cavetto: three with still-life scenes including vases, scrolls, peaches, and censers; and three with birds perched on flowering branches. These motifs draw on a mix of Buddhist, Confucian, and Daoist symbolism, peaches representing immortality, books and censers evoking scholarship and ritual refinement.

The background is filled with a dense green “fish roe” pattern, scattered with multi-coloured flowerheads. A decorative border of geometric starburst panels in blue, orange, and green frames the design. The plate’s rim is gilded, though the application is uneven and shows minor rubbing. On the reverse, moulded radial fluting is visible.

Condition

Two hairlines visible to reverse edge. Structurally sound with no visible restoration or overpainting.

Why You Should Buy

The layering of symbolic detail and unusual colours on this plate makes it a rich and thoughtful example of late Qing export porcelain.

General Information

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