Tobacco leaf pattern – one of the most prized of the Chinese export porcelain – was introduced as early as c1750. However, most tobacco leaf and pseudo-tobacco leaf porcelain date to about 20 years later. The design shows – instead of real tobacco leaves – tropical multicolored foliage, with hibiscus and passion flowers. The original design was probably inspired by patterns used on 17th- and 18th-century Indian textiles and damask fabrics. Sometimes the bold leaves of the Nicotiana (flowering tobacco) plant are shown. Originally designed for the European – especially for England and Portugal – and the Brazilian market, the palette consists of underglaze cobalt blue, with all other enamels (including gold, turquoise, green, yellow, white, purple) applied over the glaze.

Special and small cylindrical Chinese porcelain vase with widening base and trumpet-shaped neck and wide round serrated edge on a low round base ring. A polychrome decor of a so-called tobacco leaf in famille rose has been painted on a white cover. Around and at the height of the neck we see several small polychrome scatter flowers. The rim and base are delineated by a wavy line in cobalt blue. The base, with the exception of the base ring, is glazed at the bottom. There is no mark. Such decor can be dated to the Chien Lung imperial period, ca. 1770. This “tabacco leaf” decor was mainly exported to North America, but also to Europe. This decor was used from about 1750.

Condition: minimal defect on the edge of the base, very good restorations at the border.