Antique Pair of Large Chinese Blue & White Porcelain Chargers with Qianlong Marks

A striking pair of antique Chinese blue and white porcelain chargers dating to circa 1900, each of unusually large proportions and beautifully hand painted in underglaze blue. The chargers are decorated with elaborate garden scenes depicting exotic birds amongst flowering peonies, blossom, bamboo and twisting branches, with smaller birds and insects amongst the abundant foliage. The use of varying shades of cobalt blue gives the decoration wonderful depth and detail. The reverse of each charger is decorated with stylised scrolling floral motifs and bears a six-character underglaze-blue mark reading Da Qing Qianlong Nian Zhi, translating as “Made during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor of the Great Qing dynasty.” The marks are apocryphal, with the chargers themselves dating to circa 1900. The use of earlier prestigious reign marks was a long-established tradition in Chinese ceramics, with potters frequently referencing admired earlier periods. This pair was probably produced at Jingdezhen in Jiangxi Province, China’s historic centre of porcelain manufacture. At approximately 46 cm (18.1 inches) in diameter, these are an impressive and highly decorative pair of antique Chinese chargers. Date: Circa 1900 Origin: China, probably Jingdezhen Available for UK and international shipping.