Saucer
Category
Ceramics
Date
1695 - 1715
Materials
porcelain, underglaze cobalt blue and overglaze polychrome enamels
Measurements
17 mm (Height); 137 mm (Diameter)
Place of origin
Jingdezhen
Order this imageCollection
Wallington, Northumberland
NT 581777
Summary
Saucer, porcelain, made in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, China, c. 1695-1715; decorated in underglaze cobalt blue and translucent overglaze polychrome (famille verte) enamels, painted with a pair of strutting cockerel amongst flowers, an insect and rockwork, beside an ornamental brick-type fence, with a vase of flowers, the rim border with a band of demi-hexagonal cells; the underside with sprigs in iron-red and green; base marked in underglaze blue with a ribboned lozenge (one of the Eight Precious Things (Babao)) within double concentric rings.
Full description
Cockerels or roosters were associated with the New Year and a symbol of good fortune. The association stems from the homonym – chicken (ji) or rooster (gonji), a visual pun representing luck (ji). When two roosters are shown standing with one slightly above, it references a wish for continued success; as the combination of the words ‘coxcomb’ (jiguan) and ‘standing’ (shang) evokes the phrase guangshang jiaguan (‘may you achieve rank upon rank’).
Provenance
Gift from Sir Charles Philips Trevelyan 3rd Bt
Marks and inscriptions
Base of plate: Marked in underglaze blue with a ribboned lozenge (one of the Eight Precious Things (Babao)) within double concentric rings. Base of plate: White circular label - written in blue ink - 179