Antique China Patterns

Antique china patterns are regularly or repeatedly used decorative patterns on porcelain. They do exist on porcelain for China's internal market as well as on export porcelain.

China patterns with Chinese style decorations
(as found on export porcelain)

Examples for the European market

• Kraak pattern
  
• Willow pattern
  
• Rooster pattern
  
• Rose medallion
  
• Mandarin pattern
  
• Imari style china patterns (see Chinese Imari)
  
• Fitzhugh pattern (custom made for the Fitzhugh family, initially)
  
• Armorial porcelain (often similar design with different initials or coat-of-arms, etc. 

Japanese market During the late Ming and early Qing dynasty predominantly red and green wares were exported to Japan. Many have the mark 吳須赤繪 (Wuxu Chihui) and were used exclusively for the Japanese market. Red-green plate       (aka Swatow ware)  depicting phoenix

Southeast Asian market
From the middle of the 19th century (Tongzhi reign) porcelain was made to order specifically for the Straits Chinese in Malacca and Singapore, and their descendants. See Peranakan or Nyonya Porcelain.
Thailand also had porcelain made according to their tastes. Benjaron porcelain was initially made for the royal court, but in the 19th century also for others.
Vietnamese upper classes too were clients for a special type of blue and white porcelain (Bleu de Hué), specifically made for Vietnam.

Domestic market of China
A design that frequently appears in antique china patterns is the so-called "rice-planting peasant / fisherman / firewood collector" pattern which was used in many variations throughout the centuries. Another one is the "floral and bird" pattern, where a garden with or without balustrades, with or without birds, and/or flowers are depicted. There is the "three friends of winter" (bamboo, plum and pine), scholar designs were popular especially in the Ming dynasty, while ladies are frequently found in Qing dynasty patterns. Children at play are found throughout.
Scores of other patterns were in use for China's domestic market. Many related to history, mythology and traditional events. See Craft Motifs and Chinese Symbolism.


There are many more patterns found, both in domestic and export porcelain. In addition, Chinese china patterns can also be found in antique European porcelain (!).
From the 17th to 19th centuries Chinese motifs and styles were copied by European porcelain producers to various degrees. The willow pattern is one example of a Chinese pattern that found wide use in European porcelain.
"Chinoiserie" is a term that many will know... but may not be that sure what it designates. This is basically European porcelain imitating Chinese patterns or styles.

Decoration Types

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Last update: 28. Aug.2024