Figure of a Chinese Emperor with Pair of Lion Vase Holders, Gorer Plate 1911

This is Plate 82 from Chinese Porcelain and Hard Stones, an original 1911 color plate of Chinese porcelain showing a rare seated figure of an emperor in imperial robes, shown with a pair of recumbent Chinese lions each carrying a square vase on its back. The emperor has real hair under a green crown cap with a gold fret band and ogre mask, and his green robe has red panels with five-clawed dragons and a wave border. The lions, one green and yellow and the other green, yellow and aubergine, carry vases painted with lilies on soft green. Gorer and Blacker describe the emperor and the lions as Kang-he period and record them in the collection of G. R. Davies; the emperor height 10 inches (25 cm), width 5 1/2 inches (14 cm).

The plate comes from Chinese Porcelain and Hard Stones, the two volume work that Edgar Gorer and J. F. Blacker published through Bernard Quaritch of 11 Grafton Street, New Bond Street, London, in 1911. Two hundred and fifty four full page plates were printed in color by a photo mechanical process, each one facing a page of letterpress in English and French that described the piece. The edition was limited to one thousand numbered copies. 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.

Each sheet shows a single piece or group photographed against a plain ground, at a consistent scale and format throughout the book, with the plate number printed in red below. The book's text, which faced each plate, gives the authors' description, the period they assigned and the collection the piece was in.

Even age toning. Slight wear at the top right corner.

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