This pair of large octagonal Chinese porcelain chargers dates to the Qianlong period, 1736–1795.
Each is hand painted in underglaze blue with a river landscape featuring pagodas, rocky islands, boats, willow trees, and figures crossing an arched bridge.
These landscapes belong to the Chinese pictorial tradition that inspired the English Willow pattern.
In Britain, the familiar imagery acquired a romantic story: a young woman and her father’s secretary fall in love, flee across a bridge, and are eventually transformed into a pair of birds. This tale developed later in Britain, giving a new narrative to imagery already established on Chinese porcelain such as these chargers.
On these chargers, the landscapes unfold across broad centers framed by elaborate blue borders.
Dark cobalt outlines and graduated blue washes distinguish the architecture, foliage, and rocky banks.
Open stretches of water lead the eye toward distant buildings and mountains.
On one charger, a solitary figure occupies a small area of white ground in the foreground; the corresponding space on the other charger is empty.
This detail is one of the small differences that distinguish the two hand-painted compositions.
Broad borders of diaper grounds, floral ornament, and interlocking circular motifs frame the landscapes and follow the cut-cornered rims.
Their substantial size and detailed decoration make the pair well suited for wall display, one above the other or side by side.
Origin: China
Dimensions: Each 16.25″ wide × 13.5″ high
Condition: Excellent
Date: Qianlong period, 1736–1795
Material: Porcelain
Decoration: Hand-painted underglaze-blue river landscapes with ornamental borders