Pair of rose water pitchers of Rose Family. China, 19th century.

Pair of rose water pitchers of Rose Family. China, 19th century.
Enameled porcelain. Paris. Paris. 19th century.
Measurements: 19 x 10 cm (x2).
Pair of rose water pitchers with polychrome decoration of the Canton Rose Family style, characterized by the predominance of light and very bright shades, especially pink and green. This is a style typical of ceramics for export to Europe, in this particular case, it was made in Malaysia for export and a typical wedding gift for wealthy newly married couples. This style was developed mainly during the second half of the 19th century. It is an ornate and highly ornamental style, usually decorated with figurative scenes and floral motifs. Thanks to the discovery of white glaze, Chinese potters expanded the palette achieving new tonal ranges that will allow them to conform more to European taste, also developed a new shade of pink based on gold. Within the Canton Rose Family there are three styles: pink medallion, nonya or straits and the mandarin style, to which this piece belongs. The mandarin style emerged in 1820, and is characterized by its decorations with typically Chinese figures, dressed in the traditional manner, set in domestic or courtly environments. In this case, the body and neck of the vase are decorated with dynamic scenes in domestic interiors. These figurative scenes are framed with geometric fretwork and the space between them is filled with a variety of plant and animal motifs, including flowers, birds and brightly colored butterflies that stand out against the white background.