How were large Chinese dishes used historically?

These substantial vessels served both functional and decorative roles within households, acting as serving platters for communal banquets or as grand display pieces on tables and walls. Export wares often travelled to European markets where they demonstrated the wealth and refined taste of their owners, while domestic pieces held ritual or everyday utility.

How do I identify a Kangxi period dish?

Dishes from the Kangxi reign often feature vibrant cobalt blue pigments applied in varying washes to create a sense of depth, commonly paired with fine white porcelain bodies. Inspect the base for period marks or art symbols, though many quality export pieces relied on Chenghua mark imitations or carried simple auspicious symbols instead.

What is the difference between Famille Rose and Famille Verte?

Famille verte relies predominantly on a transparent green enamel combined with iron red, yellow, blue, and black to create bright, multi-coloured compositions. Famille rose introduces an opaque pink or purple enamel derived from colloidal gold, which softer transitions and a warmer palette characteristic of later Qing wares.