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ID #SA1241546
FOR SALE
£300
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Antique Chinese Export Canton Enamel Square Dessert Plate, Qianlong, C.1780
For sale by Ritas Bazaar
for sale €351     $381
£300

Ritas Bazaar

Sellingantiques Verified Since Nov 2025
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Antique Chinese Export Canton Enamel Square Dessert Plate, Qianlong, C.1780

18th century
For Sale by Ritas Bazaar
Description

An exceptionally rare Chinese Export Canton enamel square dessert plate, finely hand-painted during the Qing dynasty.

The Famille Rose interior is centred with a palace garden scene of Chinese scholars and elegant ladies examining a vase of flowers. Architectural elements, a terrace and stylized rockwork create a richly detailed setting around the figures.

Its broad, gently flared border is enamelled in sky blue and decorated with trailing pink peach sprays, traditional emblems of longevity, together with scrolling green foliage. The unglazed rim exposes the copper body. The reverse is finished in a plain light turquoise-blue enamel wash.

A fine network of horizontal and vertical firing crazing, also known as thermal stress lines, is visible across the painted surface. These intersecting pale lines formed when the enamel pigments and base coat contracted at different rates during the multi-stage kiln firing. They are period-correct traits of the imperfect historical kiln-firing process and conclusively verify the early manufacture of the dish.

The combination of its shaped-square form, courtly figural decoration and turquoise counter-enamel gives this piece particular collector appeal.

Dimensions: 17.4 × 17.4 cm; height: 2.5 cm. Weight: 216 g.

Condition: Very good antique condition. Fine firing crazing / thermal stress lines are present across the painted surface. The light turquoise-blue counter-enamel on the reverse has minor age-related surface wear.

Please study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of this description. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them. The item will be carefully packed and shipped with full tracking and insurance. It is important to note that shipping costs include labour, packaging and postage.

Physical Dimensions
Height
2.5cm (0.98")
Width
17.4cm (6.85")
Depth
17.4cm (6.85")
Declaration

Ritas Bazaar has dated this Canton Enamel Dessert Plate to the 18th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1241546
Dealers Internal Reference
B1892
Description
An exceptionally rare Chinese Export Canton enamel square dessert plate, finely hand-painted during the Qing dynasty.
“
The Famille Rose interior is centred with a palace garden scene of Chinese scholars and elegant ladies examining a vase of flowers.
Ritas Bazaar

Architectural elements, a terrace and stylized rockwork create a richly detailed setting around the figures.

fig 1. An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene.
fig 1. Antique Chinese Export Canton Enamel Square Dessert Plate, Qianlong, C.1780

Its broad, gently flared border is enamelled in sky blue and decorated with trailing pink peach sprays, traditional emblems of longevity, together with scrolling green foliage. The unglazed rim exposes the copper body. The reverse is finished in a plain light turquoise-blue enamel wash.

fig 2. An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene.
fig 2. Antique Chinese Export Canton Enamel Square Dessert Plate, Qianlong, C.1780

A fine network of horizontal and vertical firing crazing, also known as thermal stress lines, is visible across the painted surface. These intersecting pale lines formed when the enamel pigments and base coat contracted at different rates during the multi-stage kiln firing. They are period-correct traits of the imperfect historical kiln-firing process and conclusively verify the early manufacture of the dish.

fig 3. An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene.
fig 3. Antique Chinese Export Canton Enamel Square Dessert Plate, Qianlong, C.1780

The combination of its shaped-square form, courtly figural decoration and turquoise counter-enamel gives this piece particular collector appeal.

Dimensions: 17.4 × 17.4 cm; height: 2.5 cm. Weight: 216 g.

fig 4. An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene.
fig 4. Antique Chinese Export Canton Enamel Square Dessert Plate, Qianlong, C.1780

Condition: Very good antique condition. Fine firing crazing / thermal stress lines are present across the painted surface. The light turquoise-blue counter-enamel on the reverse has minor age-related surface wear.

fig 5. An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene.
fig 5. Antique Chinese Export Canton Enamel Square Dessert Plate, Qianlong, C.1780

Please study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of this description. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them. The item will be carefully packed and shipped with full tracking and insurance. It is important to note that shipping costs include labour, packaging and postage.

Height
2.5cm (0.98")
Width
17.4cm (6.85")
Depth
17.4cm (6.85")
Date of Manufacture

Ritas Bazaar has dated this Canton Enamel Dessert Plate to the 18th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1241546
Dealers Internal Ref
B1892
Ritas Bazaar
Sellingantiques verified Since Nov 2025
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Ritas Bazaar Profile Page

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An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene.
1 / 15
Archive I An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene.

Antique Chinese Export Canton Enamel Square Dessert Plate, Qianlong, C.1780

Archive II An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene. View II
Archive III An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene. View III
Archive IV An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene. View IV
Archive V An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene. View V
Archive VI An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene. View VI
Archive VII An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene. View VII
Archive VIII An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene. View VIII
Archive IX An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene. View IX
Archive X An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene. View X
Archive XI An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene. View XI
Archive XII An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene. View XII
Archive XIII An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene. View XIII
Archive XIV An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene. View XIV
Archive XV An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene. View XV
Enlarged Archival View

Ritas Bazaar
Telephone 07938 910153
Location
Hertfordshire
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/ritasbazaar
Verified Since Nov 2025
Items For Sale 262
Items Sold 55
Ritas Bazaar
Verified Since Nov 2025
View Dealer Info
Location: Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/ritasbazaar
Verified
Nov 2025
For Sale
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Sold
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An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene.
Antique Chinese Export Canton Enamel Square Dessert Plate, Qianlong, c.1780
Ref: SA1241546
An 18th-century square Chinese Canton enamel dish featuring a blue floral border and a central hand-painted figural scene.
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Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectDecorative Dish
  • Period18th century
  • StyleChinese Export
  • MaterialEnamel, Copper
  • ColourBlue, Multicolour
  • MotifsIndented square rim, Floral scroll border, Figural scene, Rockwork and foliage
  • SizeH 2.5 cm (1 in) x W 17.4 cm (7 in) x D 17.4 cm (7 in)

FAQs

Canton enamel refers to vitreous enamel decorative items produced in Guangzhou, China, primarily during the 18th and 19th centuries for export to European markets. Influenced by enamel painting techniques introduced by Jesuit missionaries, Chinese artisans adapted these methods to portray traditional figures, landscapes, and floral motifs.

These items were manufactured by shaping a thin copper base, applying a layer of opaque white enamel slip, and firing it in a kiln. Artisans then painted detailed figurative scenes and borders using enamel pigments before executing a final firing to fuse the decoration to the substrate.

Authentic 18th-century Canton enamel displays characteristics of age, including fine hairline crazing, micro-pitting, and wear around the exposed copper edges. Original pieces demonstrate hand-hammered metal contours and a specific colour palette featuring cobalt blue borders and delicate polychrome enamels.

Displaying an enamel dish on a plate stand within a bookshelf or placing it flat on a sideboard top adds historic colour and texture. It can also be mounted as part of a gallery wall arrangement alongside framed botanical prints or architectural drawings.

Clean Canton enamelware using a dry, soft microfibre cloth to remove surface dust. Avoid liquid cleaners, immersion in water, or abrasive polishes, as moisture can penetrate surface cracks and lead to oxidisation of the internal copper core.
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