Plate

Title
Plate
Year/Period
Late 19th-early 20th century
Region
Kuala Lumpur, British Malaya
Dimension
Gross measurement: H:3.2 x Dia:21.5 cm
Accession No.
2009-03037
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Sunny Chan Hean Kee

This plate is an example of Peranakan Chinese porcelain or Nyonya ware made from overglaze polychrome porcelain. It carries the shop mark “Zhao Cai Jin Bao” which translates to a call for wealth and treasure. The decorative motifs consist of a single white crane within a round medallion at the centre of the piece. It is surrounded by sprays of flowers of different colours, some in orange and some in bright purple. The crane is a symbol of longevity. These motifs are painted against an emerald green background symbolising youth and spring. The border patterns consist of symbols from the Eight auspicious Buddhist Emblems such as the unending knot, the lotus flower, the pair of Golden Fish and the conch shell, which are painted on an orange background. These are interspersed with designs of trailing ribbons.