Chinese Famille Noir Mille Fleurs Porcelain Fish Bowl On Stand with Qianlong Mark. The tight concentration of flowers on the black background exterior is stunning, with a less busy interior showing isolated flowers and fish on a white background. The six-character seal on the bottom suggests it is the guanyao mark, though it is faded somewhat. It is unclear if the wood stand is the original, but it fits perfectly and is sturdy. 

Condition: Commensurate with age. 

Size Without Stand: 19 x 19 x 16 in. 

Famille noire is a style of Chinese porcelain whose name translates to “black family” from French, which emerged during the Qing Dynasty in the 18th century. It features a striking black glaze as the base, upon which bright and delicate patterns of flowers, birds, and other natural motifs are applied using various enamel colors. Genuine famille noire wares were made in the Kangxi era, although some clobbered wares had the black added to famille verte porcelain in the 19th Century. These are distinctive works within the history of Chinese ceramics, as the use of copper-green lead-based enamel painted over with dry black cobalt gives them a near-iridescent appearance. Famille noire is highly appreciated by collectors, particularly when they are painted in the Mille Fleur (“thousand flowers”) style. However, in the late 20th Century famille rose and famille verte became more popular, leading to a decline in the market value, although pieces marked with Qing Dynasty stamps often still command great sums at auction.

Commensurate with age.