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Octagonal Blue and White Porcelain Saucer

An octagonal blue and white porcelain saucer featuring a central female figure in a garden and eight decorated border panels.

Estimated value

$80 - $180

Rarity

Average(4/10)

Category

Asian Art

Era

Late 19th to early 20th century

Origin

🇨🇳 China

Authenticity

Moderate(55%)
5

OCTAGONAL BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN SAUCER: ORIGINS & SIGNIFICANCE

An octagonal porcelain saucer featuring underglaze cobalt blue decoration. The central medallion depicts a 'Long Eliza' (Meiren) figure in a garden setting, a classic motif in Chinese export porcelain. The flaring rim is divided into eight panels, alternating between floral sprays and simplified landscapes, enclosed by a trellis-pattern border. The brushwork exhibits a swift, somewhat stylized quality typical of provincial kilns or export-grade wares.

EASTERN & WESTERN ECHOES

Where This Object Echoes

Dutch Golden Age17th-18th Century

Delftware potters extensively copied these Chinese motifs to meet local demand for 'Oriental' luxury.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

  • •The European Tea Ceremony: such saucers were essential components of the high-society ritual of tea drinking in the 1700s.

Meaning Through Time

18th Century

A symbol of immense wealth and exotic connection to the Far East.

Modern Day

An object of scholarly appreciation for the history of global trade and cultural exchange.

EASTERN PROVENANCE

The 'Long Eliza' motif, derived from the Dutch 'Lange Lijzen', became immensely popular in Europe during the late 17th and 18th centuries. While this piece captures that Kangxi-era aesthetic, the specific execution—particularly the simplified diapers and facial features—suggests it may be a later ...
The 'Long Eliza' motif, derived from the Dutch 'Lange Lijzen', became immensely popular in Europe during the late 17th and 18th centuries. While this piece captures that Kangxi-era aesthetic, the specific execution—particularly the simplified diapers and facial features—suggests it may be a later 19th-century 'Nanking' style export or a high-quality 20th-century revival. These octagonal forms were highly favored in European markets for tea services, reflecting the Western fascination with 'Chinoiserie'.

EASTERN FOOTNOTES

1

The term 'Long Eliza' actually comes from the Dutch 'Lange Lijzen', used by 17th-century traders to describe the tall, slender female figures depicted on Chinese porcelain.

2

The blue color comes from cobalt oxide, which was one of the few pigments stable enough to survive the intense heat of a porcelain kiln without burning away.

MEDIUM & CRAFT

Surface

Glossy vitreous glaze with minor instances of pinholing and slight cobalt bleeding (bleu-poudré effect) consistent with traditional kiln firing.

Weight & Feel

Estimated at 150-200g; likely feels light and delicate with a resonant ring if tapped, indicative of high-fired kaolin clay.

Condition

User reports mint condition. Visually, the rim appears intact with no immediate evidence of 'fritting' or 'flea bites' common on export porcelain.

HOW SCARCE IS IT?

Average55-70%
CommonLegendary

Typical antique shop fare. Requires some searching but regularly available. This is where most genuine antiques fall.

Typical Characteristics

  • Standard antique shop items
  • Regularly available
  • Moderate collector interest

Confidence Factors

  • Stylized brushwork could indicate a later reproduction of an earlier Kangxi period style
  • Lack of visible underside/reign mark limits dating precision
  • Excellent condition is unusual for 18th-century export ware, suggesting a later manufacture date
How does authenticity detection work?

ASIAN ART SCHOLAR'S TAKE

Cabinet of Curiosities Generalist

Interdisciplinary Investigator

The iconography and shape are well-documented, but the lack of a view of the base (footrim and marks) prevents a definitive distinction between late Qing Dynasty and early 20th-century production.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Octagonal form is a classic export shape designed to appeal to European geometric tastes.
  • 2Underglaze blue 'Long Eliza' motif is a hallmark of the Chinoiserie style.
  • 3Trellis/diaper border pattern is consistent with Nanking-type export wares.
  • 4The brightness of the white porcelain body suggests a refined kaolin-petuntse mix.

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •The facial features of the central figure are quite simplified, which is often seen in later 19th-century copies of 18th-century originals.
  • •The absence of a 'ring of fire' (orange oxidation) on the footrim (unseen) would confirm a more modern firing process.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Photograph the underside/base to check for reign marks or kiln grit.
  • →Check for translucency by holding the piece up to a strong light source.
  • →Perform a 'ring test' by gently tapping the edge with a fingernail to check for cracks.

ASIAN ART VALUATION

$80 - $180

Updated: Mar 9, 2026

  • Market comparables from auctions & retail
  • Condition, completeness & craftsmanship
  • Current collector demand & trends
  • Low = quick sale, high = patient seller

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

CONTEXT ANALYSIS

How your provided context compares with Curiosa.com scanner findings.

What Aligned

  • User stated 'Mint' condition - visual surface appears remarkably clean and free of the typical chips (fritting) usually found on the sharp edges of octagonal export shapes.

FROM THE CABINET OF

R2

r2d2
Wonderseeker•4 items

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