Covered jar, overglaze polychrome enamelled porcelain, Chinese export to Southeast Asia, 1890-1930

Covered jar, overglaze polychrome enamelled porcelain, with a tub-like body set with two pairs of ears for the twisted metal ring handles, a wide mouth and low collar and a domed cover with a flat rim and shallow flange topped by a standing lion-dog finial, the body and cover featuring on a each side a reserve white quatrefoil medallion enclosing two boys, butterfly and melons with vines, on a light pink ground with bats and stylised lotus scrolls in reserved white, with highlights in lime green, yellow and light blue; the jar collar with a floral scroll on a light blue ground; the cover rim with iron red key frets on a green ground; the lion-dog finial, cover rim, and tops of the ear handles gilded.

Given by Mrs M. Joan Stewart

Collected by Mrs M. Joanna Stewart when she was residing in Malaysia from 1962 to 1979.

This type of colourful enamelled porcelain is commonly known as Nyonya wares (also spelt Nonya). They were made in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, China, in the mid-19th to 20th century specifically for export to Southeast Asia, where they were commissioned and used by wealthy Chinese families in places such as Singapore, Malacca and Penang. The pieces were mainly use during festive and special occasions. They represent an important part of the heritage of the Chinese diaspora in Southeast Asia.

Covered jars of this shape are known as (<i>kamcheng</i>) in the Hokkien dialect. They come in a variety of sizes and may have been used for storing boiled water, pickled foods or desserts.

FE.53:1, 2-2014