RARE ORMOLU-MOUNT 19TH C "100 BIRDS & PHOENIX" PLATE (02/24/2011)

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RARE ORMOLU-MOUNT 19TH C "100 BIRDS & PHOENIX" PLATE

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RARE ORMOLU-MOUNT 19TH C "100 BIRDS & PHOENIX" PLATE

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Sold Date: 02/24/2011
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art

Presenting an elegant merger of East and West focused on a circa 1820 Chinese famille rose porcelain plate. Its central motif, rare on export dishes, is a time-honored Chinese favorite known as "100 Birds Adoring the Phoenix." Then by European hands, the piece has been majestically embellished by a later Continental gilt-bronze ormolu mounting in the form of a laden grapevine with twining fold-down basket handle and short tripodal feet. The border of the plate has become canvas to an exceptional tableau of chrysanthemums, peonies, other bright flora and fruiting branches, all delivering enduring testimony to this garden of colorful Canton delights. Such sumptuous border designs often are identifiable with the Daoguang reign (1821-50). However, this cavetto scene depicts a pair of fabulous phoenix birds stylistically associated more with the 18th century, leaving open a possibility of the plate having been made late in the preceding Jiaqing period (1796-1820). Regardless of date, its beauty certainly is timeless.

SIZE: The plate diameter is 7.75 inches (19.8 cm), while the ormolu mounting increases overall dimensions to a width of approximately 8.5 inches (21.7 cm) and a height of 7.0 inches (17.8 cm).

CONDITION: The plate and ormolu mounting both exhibit signs of use for their intended purpose. The plate has a single tight hairline extending about ⅝ of an inch from a small nibble on the outer rim edge. The line is difficult to see on either side of the plate except with enhanced lighting. There is no other discernable damage to the porcelain, and only one insignificant production-related glazing anomaly visible on the base. Painting in the cavetto was retouched over worn spots at some time sufficiently long ago that some of the colors have begun to fade as shown. The border motif of the plate appears not to have been retouched much if at all, though the overglaze white and some other enamel surfaces reveal age-related pitting under high magnification. The porcelain also exhibits typical small potting, enameling and glazing variances, including tiny pinholes, a few small glaze ripples, and other such characteristics in common with all traditional Chinese handmade porcelain. The ormolu mounting shows off its residual gold fairly well in bright light, as shown in the first picture. The mounting has seen more than average wear in some places, but is in sturdy condition and should last many more years with proper care. All apparent condition problems considered worthy of note are shown in accompanying photos, which constitute an important part of this description.

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