Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Lidded Box

Magnificent hand-painted lidded box with peonies and the Great Seal of the United States. This exceptional object was made in the third quarter of the 19th century by the Yong Sheng Porcelain Works in Hong Kong. Famille rose porcelain became very popular in the early 18th century. In art history, Chinese porcelain was classified according to its predominant color. Pink was discovered around 1680 by the Leiden scholar Andreas Cassius (1600-1673) and was introduced to China by the Jesuits, who quickly used it for porcelain painting. The designs are very recognizable thanks to the use of bright rose-red for the floral elements and the pinkish glaze that characterizes the color range. This lidded box probably dates from the first half of the 19th century, a time when the production of so-called historical porcelain was gaining popularity. This involved copying the finest products of previous centuries. Although this lidded box was made in China, the theme was clearly adapted for the American market by depicting the Great Seal of the United States. The bald eagle became the national symbol of the United States on June 20, 1782. The 13 golden stars symbolize the 13 British colonies on the East Coast that revolted in 1775 and declared their independence a few months later. Due to the Revolutionary War, trade with China did not resume until 1784, when the merchant ship Empress of China left New York Harbor for Canton. Condition: This lidded box shows normal signs of wear inherent to an object of this age. Otherwise, this object is in perfect condition.