Octagonal Chinese blue and white plate with peonies – Qianlong, 18th c.

An elegant octagonal Chinese porcelain plate from the Qianlong period (1736–1795). In the centre, a garden scene with peonies, a rock, and a small garden fence, surrounded by a fine diaper border; small floral motifs on the octagonal rim. Classic blue and white export porcelain that the VOC (Dutch East India Company) brought to the Netherlands in large quantities. The octagonal shape is just a little more special than a round plate and makes it very striking decoratively. This is genuine 18th-century Chinese porcelain that you can still simply use or hang on the wall. Lovely in a classic, Dutch or country interior, in a wall composition with other blue and white, or as a single object on a chest of drawers. Blue and white also combines surprisingly well with mid-century furniture. Condition: good. No hairline cracks or restorations visible. Small glaze bubbles and kiln spots in the cobalt blue, a few minuscule frits (small rim chips) along the octagonal rim and light signs of use on the centre.