Plate with birds and flowers

China

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 221

As the first point of contact between Europe and China, Canton (now Guangzhou) was a center of enamel production and distribution throughout the eighteenth and the nineteenth centuries. Wares from the city’s workshops, known as “Canton enamels,” commonly featured popular motifs based on court designs from Beijing. One of the most favored examples depicts lively birds and flowers surrounded by a dense floral border. This design can be found on enameled porcelain created for both domestic and export markets.

Plate with birds and flowers, Painted enamel on copper alloy, China

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