Object Description
Chinese early 18th century made during the reign of The Emperor Kangxi excellent Doucai plate. Painted with over glaze enamels to show a stylized Pomegranate tree with other small pomegranate trees, the sides painted with vines and flowering rose sprays. the underside painted with fruiting branches and to the base a double circle around a six character Cheng H’ua apocryphal mark.
Doucai refers to the palette which means colours which fit or join together. the pattern is outlined in under glaze blue and then fired and the decorative enamels are then painted in the outline and the plate is re-fired twice more as the enamels fire at different temperatures.
Pomegranates arrived in China during the Han Dynasty and were an important food but soon become synonymous with the wish for many sons and abundance and in Buddhism also good luck
The rose means everlasting springtime and enduring Youth and the vine is for ceaseless generations.