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 “Da Qin Tongzhi nian” which suggests that it could have been manufactured during the reign of Emperor Tongzhi from 1862 to 1874. The decorative motifs include orange coloured floral motifs with butterflies of different colours and wing patterns. Butterflies are symbols of joy, beauty and romance. When depicted together with flowers, they represent marital happiness and fidelity. Orange key frets form a border pattern at the rim and at the bottom of the piece. These are interspersed with trailing ribbons. These emblems represent all manner of good wishes. 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.
