Pair of Chinese ‘Double Peacock’ Famille Rose Plates, Qianlong (1736-95), Sold

Ref: W404

Pair of Chinese ‘double peacock’ famille rose plates, Qianlong (1736-95), painted in bright enamels and gilt, the centre with a peacock and peahen perched on rockwork beside a large peony-blossom amongst various flowering branches, within a spear-head border to the cavetto, the wide rim with garlands of flowers enclosed by a geometric patterned border interspersed by cartouches containing scrolls. SOLD

Dimensions:

Diameter: 23 cm. (9 in.)

Condition:

One with shallow chip to rim and minute frit, the other with two shallow chips and two minute frits

Notes:

King Joao VI of Portugal is known to have owned a service in this pattern. When Napoleon invaded Portugal in 1807, King Joao (who was Prince Regent at this time) fled to Brazil, taking his six services of Chinese porcelain with him, including one of this same design. The pattern is known as 'Serviço dos Pavões' in Brazil, and there are several examples in the collections of Brazilian museums today.