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1. Straits Chinese or Baba-Nonya Floor Spittoons China 19th c. ceramic diameter at top: 22cm, height: 33cm |
This pair of magnificent floor spittoons is decorated in finely rendered polychrome with a famille rose lavender background. Each is painted with white panels enclosing a phoenix amid blue and red peonies, and other panels enclosing further peonies, all embedded in a lavender background embellished with turquoise and pale green leaf and bloom motifs all framed within borders of stiff lappets and pendant ruyi-heads. The interiors are finished with a light turquoise glaze. The overall condition is fine other than for some barely detectable restoration to the base of one, hairline to the base of the other and some fritting to the rim of one. The spittoons were made in China most probably under commission by localised Chinese living in the Straits settlements of Singapore, Malacca and Penang. These Chinese were known as the Straits Chinese and also as the babas and nonyas or peranakan. Their culture, cuisine and language evolved into a hybrid of Chinese, Malay and European influences. Michael Backman Ltd has many examples of Straits Chinese or nonya ware porcelain. Please see www.michaelbackmanltd.com for more examples. Detail: Alternative view |