Chinese porcelain reached its peak during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng (1723-1735). Innovations in colored enamels meant that skilled porcelain artists could experiment with new, vibrant colors and eye-catching designs. Like his alter egos Kangxi and Qianlong, Yongzheng was a patron of the arts, especially ceramics. Wanting to revive porcelain, he took an active part in the Imperial production and even personally instructed. Shown is a beautiful Chinese porcelain round plate. On a white glaze layer, a decor is hand-painted in a famille rose palette. In the center there is an overglaze floral decoration with two mandarin ducks in a waterhole, hand-brushed. The two ducks are painted together in opposite directions. One duck has a light brown feather pattern with gilding, the other with a dark brown pattern, also with gilding. Both represent marital bliss. In a beautiful cassius rose with white contrast, four beautiful peonies are painted on green-leaved branches. Externally, it is flat edged with a circular line. The steep transition has been left blank. The border has four stylized black-bordered lotus plants with a brown diaper pattern internally, a peony and a white flower. In between, each time in a panel, on a light blue background, curls have been cut out and rose and yellow floral decorations have been brushed over. There are four such panels. The lip is painted brown. The back is glazed, except for the foot ring. The sign is not marked. The plate dates from the Qing dynasty, Yongzhen imperial period, ca. 1730.

Condition: some chips on the back on the edge (not visible on the front), discreet enamel loss, otherwise perfect.