This bowl is an example of Peranakan Chinese porcelain or Nyonya ware made from overglaze polychrome enamelled porcelain with gilt edged rim. It carries the reign mark “Tongzhi nian zhi” which suggests that it could have been manufactured during the reign of Emperor Tongzhi from 1862 to 1874. The main decorative motifs include a phoenix, its head and legs painted iron red. It has a scaly green body with details outlined in black and a long ochre tail. The phoenix is an auspicious symbol representing beauty, grace, high virtue, the Bride and the Empress. The bird is perched on a branch of red and white peony blossoms. Peonies symbolise spring, love, beauty and good fortune. There is also a yellow border pattern decorated with symbols from the eight auspicious Buddhist emblems such as the Conch Shell and the Wheel of Law. In a Peranakan household, such a bowl could have been used to serve main dishes cooked with gravy or creamy glutinous rice or juice based desserts.
