This bowl is an example of Peranakan Chinese porcelain or Nyonya ware made from overglaze polychrome porcelain. It has an everted, gilt edged chrysanthemum shaped rim. It is decorated with a motif of a phoenix in flight with a reddish pink head and a green scaly body. The phoenix is an auspicious symbol that represents beauty, grace, high virtue, the bride and the empress. The motifs are set against a salmon pink background. Symbols of the Eight Buddhist Emblems, such as the Lotus flower, form a green border pattern at the rim to represent all manner of good wishes. These are interspersed with patterns of trailing ribbons. This piece could have been a serving bowl used for serving main dishes cooked with gravy, such as curry. Smaller bowls could be used as dessert bowls to serve creamy glutinous rice or juice based fruit desserts.
