Famille Rose Oval Jar

During the 18th century, Europeans provided an eager market for Chinese export porcelain, especially the colorful and fanciful ware known as “famille rose.” Named for a palette of opaque overglaze enamels that favored roses and pinks, famille rose porcelain ware was crafted with the same technical virtuosity as imperial porcelain but designed for Western tastes.

This oval jar charms with vibrant famille rose decoration of well-dressed ladies and spritely children engaged in recreational pastimes. Contrasted by the white background, the domestic scenes are rendered in a soft, pastel palette with subtle gradation. Floral arrangements and auspicious objects fill the empty spaces and small bats flit across the jar as harbingers of happiness.