Famille Noire Saucer Dish with Two Dragons, Kang-he, Gorer Plate 1911

Printed in color in London in 1911 for Bernard Quaritch, this original antique plate shows a saucer shaped famille noire plate, the black ground under brilliant green, with a Ch'eng Hua mark on the base. Two dragons in tones of green chase the sacred jewel among clouds and flames, framed by a border of eight flower panels and a key pattern. The back shows four more dragons, and the mark is reserved in white on black with chih-lung and clouds. Gorer and Blacker describe it as Kang-he period and record it in the collection formed by Richard Bennett; diameter 14 1/4 inches (37 cm).

This is one of the two hundred and fifty four color plates in Chinese Porcelain and Hard Stones, published in London by Bernard Quaritch in 1911 for Edgar Gorer and J. F. Blacker. The piece was photographed and the plate printed in color, so the glaze, the palette and the modeling of the original are carried over directly rather than interpreted by a draftsman. Each plate faced a page of description in English and French. The plates are color collotypes, and the book records that it was produced and printed by the Menpes Printing and Engraving Company of London and Watford.

Edgar Gorer (1872 to 1915) was a London dealer in Chinese art. He traded as S. Gorer and Son from 170 New Bond Street, opened a shop at 500 Fifth Avenue in New York, and sold to Sir William Lever, later Lord Leverhulme. He was lost on 7 May 1915 when the Lusitania was torpedoed.

Even age toning. A few small foxing spots in the margin. Slight wear at the bottom left and top right corners.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.