8 Highlights from RCB Auctions’ Asian Antiques Live Auction on September 18th, 2021

Large Blue and White Dishes

Featured at our auction are two Chinese Blue and white porcelain, Lot 111 and lot 112. These large blue and white ‘lotus’ dishes are very special and rare due to their substantial size. Painted in blue pigment with various types of flower blooms and leafy scrolls, both on the interior and exterior. The dishes dated back to the early Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1912), but the stylistic motif was first developed and greatly popularized in the Ming dynasty (1368 to 1644).

Lot 111 is an 18th century large blue and white ‘lotus’ dish, boldly painted in the center with five mixed flower blooms. A lotus flower in the center and four different flower blooms revolving around it with branching scrolling leafy meander and an encircling border of a classic scroll. The well of the dish is painted in a similar scroll design, all within a key-fret band at the rim’s interior. The exterior is painted with the same scroll design between two classic scroll bands. The base is unglazed.

Lot 112 has a similar design, however with one type of flower bloom. Painted in blue pigment in the interior with five flower blooms and leafy meander with an encircling border of a classic scroll. The well of the dish is painted in a similar scroll design, all within classic scroll at the rim interior. The exterior is painted with the same scroll design between two classic scroll bands. The base is glazed.

A  "Khon tho"

The September auction also features two blue and white export porcelains, or Laikhram (the Thai word for blue-patterned) commissioned by the Thai court in the 19th century. Both with the mark of King Chulalongkorn or Rama V, which dates these wares to around 1888.

A ‘Khon ton’ is a Thai water jug, historically used for storing cold drinking water, another variation of a Thai water jug is called a ‘Khon Tee” which is designed with a spout. Lot 119, has a globular water drop body and a rising cylindrical neck, with three separated sections on the neck of protruding bands painted with floral scrolls and a dome-shaped lid. Inspired by auspicious Chinese motifs, each section of the vase is beautifully painted in blue with clusters of five bats in flight surrounding the painted insignia of King Rama V alternated with fruiting branches of peaches and fingered citron, a symbol of happiness and longevity. The jug is framed on the shoulder and base with a band of foliate scrolls and the maker's mark 錦堂發記 (Jin Tang Fa Ji) at the base.

A Thai- Chinese tea set

In addition, to the historically significant ‘Khon ton’ item that bears the insignia of King Rama V, another important legacy piece is this stunning tea set. Lot 120 is a rare tea set that comprises four small blue and white covered teacups all finely painted with the royal insignia of King Rama V and inscribed with “Thai Minor Era 1250” and applied with brass at rim and lid grip. One polished Yixing teapot on a round shallow enameled silver tea tray, elaborately decorated with immortals and animals design on the exterior and with openwork Thepphanom encircled by confronting dragons among stylized clouds on the tray lid.