A Famille Noire jardinière
一個黑地五彩瓷花盆

Qing dynasty, early Kangxi period, 17th century, China
清朝, 康熙早期年製, 中國

Height: 13.5cm, 5.31 inches
高 13.5 釐米

Of square form splaying outwards from the base to an everted rim, the whole supported on four ruyi shaped feet left in biscuit porcelain. Each of the four sides is decorated with a single variety of flowering plant within a naturalistic setting, against a noire background within a yellow border, the plants painted in aubergine, yellow, white and two shades of green.

The black enamel on the jardinière possesses the characteristic trait of pulling away or shrinking in the firing, associated with 17th century Famille Noire pieces.