18th Century
A Late k’ang hsi (Kangxi) plate showing a small deer next to a garden fence. The deer represents prosperity so a popular subject for Chinese Dinner ware. It is also the main route to finding immortality as the deer is supposed to be the only animal that can find Lingzhi (aka reishi) the “mushroom of immortality”. This means that the deer can also be used to represent longevity.
18th Century
A mid to late Eighteenth Century Chinese Export Porcelain Coffee Cup / Can – with an interesting wavy rim. Blue and white – the soft honey gold European gilding (most likely done in London around 1800) sets off the rim. The hand-painted underglaze blue building is similar to those copied from the Chinese by Spode to create the later Temple and Broseley Patterns
18th Century
A mid to late Eighteenth Century Chinese export coffee can (cup) with handle. Decorated in underglaze cobalt blue, with hand-painted pagodas. Blue and White. The gilding was applied in Europe (probably in England) around 1800. Nice clean, simple handle. The addition of a brick built tower is unusual as are the railings around the property (or small village). Note the leaf detail where the handle connects to the body of the cup.