Round Porcelain Basket from China, Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), Qianlong Period (1736-1795). The interior of the basket features, in the centre, five peonies – one in bianco sopra bianco and another in pink hues, two in lilac hues, and one in rouge-de-fer and gold hues – which in Chinese Culture symbolise Spring, love, affection and feminine beauty. The rim, with turquoise blue enamels, is decorated with perforations and the edge features a frieze with a honeycomb pattern in rouge-de-fer and gold hues. On the exterior, the upper and lower edges of the basket are decorated with a spear frieze in gold hues, and the rim features the same turquoise blue as the interior. It has two side handles, decorated with a flower.
