Chinese Celadon Glazed and Underglaze Blue Butterfly Plate with Export Seal, Jiaqing Mark (1796-1820)

Chinese celadon porcelain plate with butterflies, prunus blossom, chrysanthemum and peony in underglaze blue. It has a blue (minyao or ‘people’s ware’) Jiaqing reign mark on the bottom (1796-1820). The bottom is white glazed with the remains of a wax export seal. The brown rim was intended to reduce the problem of fritting.

The plate is in very good condition with some kiln grit to the base, a tiny 2mm firing crack to the rim and wear to the glaze commensurate with age. Wax export approval seals, or ‘Jiandings’ were issued from around 1949. Anything made before 1949 is considered a ‘cultural relic’ and cannot be taken out of the country without a government seal and/or an officially chopped receipt. Nothing can be legally purchased from a government antique shop that dates before 1795.