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Chinese Blue and White Octagonal Dish, late Qing Dynasty to Republic Period (1880-1940)

A small Chinese octagonal blue and white porcelain dish featuring a female figure in a garden and paneled landscape borders.

Estimated value

$45 - $120

Rarity

Ordinary(3/10)

Era

late 19th to early 20th century

Origin

🇨🇳 China

Authenticity

High(80%)
19

CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE OCTAGONAL DISH, LATE QING DYNASTY TO REPUBLIC PERIOD (1880-1940): IDENTIFICATION

This octagonal porcelain saucer features underglaze cobalt blue decoration on a white ground. The central medallion depicts a 'Long Eliza' (Meiren) figure in a garden setting, a motif popular in export wares since the Kangxi period. The cavetto is divided into alternating panels showcasing landscape vignettes and floral sprays, bounded by a cross-hatched geometric border at the rim. The brushwork exhibits the looser, more rapid execution characteristic of late 19th-century provincial or export production rather than imperial quality.

Compare with other ceramic pieces in the archive: Alabaster Urn-Shaped Vase, Han Dynasty Style Glazed Ceramic Boar Figurine, Chinese Blue and White 'Three Friends of Winter' Stem Cup, Ming Style.

CROSS-CULTURAL PARALLELS

Where This Object Echoes

Dutch Delftware1700-1780

Directly imitated these Chinese Long Eliza motifs in the 18th century.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

  • •Often used as part of a miscellaneous set for serving small condiments or tea sweets in domestic Chinese and Peranakan households.

Meaning Through Time

Kangxi Period

Represented Tang-style courtly elegance and idealized feminine beauty.

Late Victorian

Symbolized exoticism and 'The East' in Western domestic interior decoration.

PRODUCTION & FIRING

The 'Long Eliza' motif, a corruption of the Dutch 'Lange Lijzen', originated in the Kangxi period (1662-1722) but saw a significant revival in the late 19th century as European markets rediscovered a taste for 'Chinoiserie'. This specific dish likely dates to the late Guangxu period (1875-1908) or ...
The 'Long Eliza' motif, a corruption of the Dutch 'Lange Lijzen', originated in the Kangxi period (1662-1722) but saw a significant revival in the late 19th century as European markets rediscovered a taste for 'Chinoiserie'. This specific dish likely dates to the late Guangxu period (1875-1908) or the early Republic era, manufactured in the Jingdezhen kilns to meet demand for domestic use and Southeast Asian export markets. This era of production is noted for its thinner glazes and a shift toward more commercial, less refined artistic standards as manual kiln operations transitioned toward the industrial age.

SCARCITY

Ordinary40-55%
CommonLegendary

Standard antiques commonly found at estate sales and flea markets. Plentiful supply meets modest demand.

Rarity 3/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 173 ceramics items at rarity 3 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

  • Moderate production runs
  • Common at estate sales
  • Entry-level collectibles

Confidence Factors

  • Technique and wear are consistent with late 19th-century provincial production
  • Motif is standard for the period and low incentive for forgery at this price point
How does authenticity detection work?

CERAMICIST'S ASSESSMENT

Asian Art Specialist

East Asian Art Expert

The identification is based on distinct stylistic markers of late Qing export ware. Confidence is high regarding the era and type, but the lack of a base photo prevents a 90%+ score.

KEY EVIDENCE

  • 1Octagonal form consistent with late 19th-century export saucer shapes
  • 2Loosely executed 'Long Eliza' motif typical of provincial Jingdezhen kilns post-1880
  • 3Presence of rim fritting, a common aging characteristic of Chinese export porcelain
  • 4Cobalt blue hue and glaze depth suggest late Qing/Republic industrial transition

UNCERTAINTIES

  • •Lack of base image prevents confirmation of reign marks or footrim wear habits

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

  • →Provide a clear, high-resolution photo of the underside (base)
  • →Check for a reign mark or iron-red export seal
  • →Illuminate from behind to check for translucency and body density

CONDITION & GRADE

Good (Grade 3)

Grading breakdown

Fairly well-preserved but docked for rim fritting and surface glaze irregularities that occurred during firing.

Condition

Small chips (fritting) are visible on the sharp edges of the octagonal rim, common for this form. There is a visible firing flaw or small impact mark in the upper section of the central medallion.

CERAMICS MARKET VALUE

$45 - $120

Updated: May 10, 2026

Who buys this

General antique collectors, Asian art enthusiasts, and decorators seeking authentic but affordable Chinoiserie accents.

What increases value

  • •Survival of the octagonal points without major cracking
  • •Clarity of the central figure's face

What lowers value

  • •Extent of rim fritting
  • •Invisible hairline cracks only detectable by 'ringing' the ceramic

What makes top-tier examples

  • •Vibrant 'sapphire' blue cobalt
  • •Full Kangxi period provenance (which this piece does not likely have)
  • •Zero rim damage

Grade & condition

Completeness of the octagonal rim, clarity of the underglaze decoration, and lack of hairline cracks.

Rarity & demand

OrdinaryModerate demandSells quickly
Browse similar ceramics objects

For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

FROM THE CABINET OF

R2

r2d2
Wonderseeker•4 items

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