Xianfeng Famille-Rose Five Bats Saucer Dish

A famile-rose 'five bats' saucer dish, Xianfeng six-character iron red mark and of the period, 11.38 in. diam. Provenance: Peng Seng Works of Art, Bangkok, 25 May 1987, The eleven years of the Xianfeng reign saw the Taiping Rebellion, and then the Second Opium War, both of which dealt a devastating blow to the porcelain production at the imperial kilns. After the fifth year of the reign, such production was nearly halted. As a result, the output of the Xianfeng porcelain is very low, and to make the matter worse, the sack of the Old Summer Palace towards the end of the reign further decimated the remaining. Compare a similar piece with identical decoration, see Sotheby's, Important Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art, Jade Carvings and Jadeite Jewellery, Hong Kong, 24 and 25 November 1987, lot 180, Peng Seng Works of Art 1987525, Important Chinese Ceramics, Works of Art, Jade Carvings and Jadeite Jewellery