Pair of Chinese export porcelain plates decorated in enamels from the famille rose (fencai) palette with two roosters, Yongzheng.

Pair of Chinese export porcelain plates richly decorated in opaque enamels from the famille rose (fencai) palette with two roosters, one standing on a rock, c. 1735, Yongzheng reign, Qing dynasty, d. 23 cm, 9 in. 3.13142

Illustrated: 100 Years of Chinese Export Porcelain, by A. Varela Santos, 2014/2015, cat. 68.

◆ The rooster has five virtues: aristocrat because it wears a crown; warrior because of its spurs; courage because it fronts its enemies; generous because it shares the food it finds; trustworthy because it tells the correct time. Crowing rooster means may you receive official rank and honour, literary success or scholarly honour. Rooster and peony means, “wishes to receive official rank and honour”.

中國外銷瓷粉彩盤一對， 色彩艷麗，繪有雄雞兩隻立於山石之上，約1735年， 清雍正， 高 23 釐米, 9 英吋。

插图: 《百年中国外销瓷》 阿.瓦瑞拉. 桑托斯, 2014/2015, 目录 68。

◆ 公雞有五德: 高貴, 因為它頭頂皇冠; 英武, 因為它腳帶利爪; 勇敢, 因為它面對敵人從不退縮; 慷慨, 因為它分享食物; 可靠, 因為它報時準確。公雞打鳴寓意,“功成名就, 金榜題名”。公雞和牡丹寓意, “頂上加冠, 花開富貴”。