I am glad to share some classic porcelain works which I had stored away and forgotten for quite a while. They are four Qing Dynasty Qianlong Period Design Vintage Chinese Porcelain Bowl with Lid of the same size and with the same decorative floral design of peonies and other flowers and butterflies.
Each has a Chinese character, “Longevity” or “Blessing,” engraved on one side of the bowl. Such lidded bowls strongly influenced the production of Peranakan Porcelainware known as the Kamchengs. Photos of Kamchengs are shown for comparison.
Kamcheng, in Hokkien dialect, means “feelings”. The wedding custom required newlyweds to eat the glutinous rice balls in the pot of “feelings.” It was the belief after eating the sweet rice balls in soup, the couple will never be separated.
Please also enjoy two colorful decorative plates designed by famous Danish artist Bjørn Wiinblad for Rosenthal Studio Line, which I acquired during a visit to Bavaria some years ago. Rosenthal GmbH is a German manufacturer of fine porcelain products and other household goods. The original firm was founded in 1879 in Selb in Bavaria. Since 2009, the Italian company Sambonet Paderno Industrie (Arcturus Group) has owned Rosenthal. The two Rosenthal Plates features 《Oriental Night Music & Mandolin Players》.
Bjørn Wiinblad (1918 – 2006) was a Danish painter, designer, and artist in ceramics, silver, bronze, textiles, and graphics. His work has been shown widely in Europe, in the US (1954), Japan, Australia, and Canada in 1968. Wiinblad was named Man of the Year in New York in 1985 and was awarded the US-Scandinavian Foundation’s Cultural Prize of 1995.
Tan It Koon
Before retirement, Dr Tan It Koon was, among many appointments, Head of Clinical Biochemistry at SGH’s Dept of Pathology. He was the Deputy Chairman of the National Theatre Trust and Chairman for Grants and Scholarships of the Spore Cultural Foundation. He received the National Day Awards, PBM, and PPA, for his contribution to cultural and community development and excellence in Public Administration.
