Bowl; China, c. 1900.

Basin; China, ca. 1900.
Glazed porcelain.
It bears a mark on the base.
Measurements: 20 x 40 x 40 cm.
A circular glazed porcelain basin, decorated on a blue background with golden and multicolored fish swimming among floating lotus leaves and flowers. The composition, with its intense colors and naturalistic style, stands out for the contrast between the blue background and the luminosity of the ornamental motifs.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Chinese porcelain maintained a significant presence in international markets, combining the continuity of imperial decorative traditions with production intended for both domestic consumption and export. Aquatic motifs, especially fish and lotus flowers, have a long tradition in Chinese art. The fish, whose Chinese name (yú) is a homophone for the word “abundance,” symbolizes prosperity and good fortune; the lotus, for its part, is associated with purity, renewal, and harmony. Their depiction together thus evokes wishes for well-being and fulfillment.