A large Chinese porcelain ‘peacock’ charger, decorated in underglaze blue with a central floral medallion containing scattered peony sprays on a diaper ground. Eight lotus-petal shaped panels radiate from the centre, alternately filled with sprays of chrysanthemum, peony and lotus flowers. The wide rim has four reserved panels with baskets of peaches or pomegranates amongst leaves, alternating with four large peacocks, on a ground of scrolling chrysanthemums. The reverse has eight ribboned treasures (zabao 雜寶) around the outside rim, with a large lingzhi fungus 靈芝 in a double blue circle in the centre. In China the peacock is a symbol of beauty and dignity, and in the Qing dynasty, the tail feathers were used to show official rank.


These elaborate and finely executed chargers are characteristic examples of the Chinese blue-and-white porcelain that was highly sought after in Europe during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.

A similar charger is illustrated in Li, He, 'Chinese Ceramics', p. 288, pl. 583; and in R. Krahl and J. Ayers, ‘Chinese Export Porcelain in the Museum of Topkapi Saray’, Istanbul, London, 1986, vol. III, no. 2300, p. 1050. Also see the V&A Museum Collection, museum number: C.792-1910.