Soup plate

The plate is complete; it is missing around the rim and has been repaired with metal studs. The plate is circular in shape, with an octagonal rim. The rim slopes slightly inwards, the side is socked and the bottom is flat and recessed. The plate rests on a small ring-shaped foot, free of glaze. The foot of the plate is stained with a dark brown material. The plate is broken and has been repaired with metal spikes. The underside of the plate has nine pairs of drilled holes, each holding a copper metal spike. The inner base of the plate shows signs of wear; the decoration is hand-painted on glaze in polychrome pink, blue, green, turquoise, orange, yellow, white and black, in the Famille rose style, with touches of gilding. It is of the Oriental garden type. The painted decoration is visible on the inner border and on the inner background. The decoration on the marli is composed of two pairs of similar floral elements, arranged in an alternating cross. Each pair consists of stems and leaves traced in black and painted in green and turquoise; each pair is trimmed with a pink-painted flower, another painted in red and black, another traced and painted in red with gold highlights, and a final one painted in blue and white. The central decoration is surrounded by a ring of alternating spearheads and pearls, traced in red and painted in gold. The central decoration features a garden scene, with an eight-panel zig-zag fence resting on an undulating terrace and ending on a mass traced in black and painted turquoise; the terrace is painted faded green. The fence is drawn in orange-red and painted gold; the panels are adorned with en suite painted slats. On this terrace, at the foot of the fence, rest various elements, including a large rock with a hole in it, symbolizing the Chinese philosophy of Taoism, outlined in black and painted turquoise. It is flanked by leaves drawn in black and painted green. To the left of this rock rises an elongated mass resembling a boulder, traced and painted in succession. At the foot of this mass is a flower traced in red and painted gold, and a mass of grass traced in black and painted green. Behind the mass rise leafy, flowering plants, the smaller one with pearl flowers painted pink, the other with leaves painted green and turquoise and flowers painted pink and white in one case, and red with gold highlights, in the other. Behind the fence stands a large, leafy, flowering plant, outlined in black and painted green and turquoise, with flowers painted pink, one painted white, and others outlined and painted red with gold highlights. The rim of the plate is covered with an iron-brown coating.