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I aquired this bowl a few weeks back on the fact that I liked the decoration. I believe it is handpainted, but I have thought that before and was wrong. Any info on the age, origin (I believe Chinese) and what the symbols between the dragons might mean? The bowl has a very subtle flower shape. It is 7 3/4" at the top x 2 1/2"H x 4 1/4"diamter at the footbase. Not sure the pics show it, but it has a slight indent around the sides. Thank you very much for your help
Eddie

Dishes in this and similar dragon patterns show up in antique shops enough to suggest they must have been used in Chinese restaurants all over the world for much of the 20th century and probably are still in production somewhere. The mark on this one as well as the decoration probably was applied by decal, as the mark is flipped horzontally as a mirror image. It reads 'Made under the Supervision of Luo Sun' (Luo Sun Jian Zhi).

When the happy occasion was a wedding, a phoenix can join the dragon in the motif, as seen in the photo herewith of a ginger jar. This one has a sticker on it of 'British Antique Exporters Ltd. Newhaven, England', which is in a printing style that makes me think it could date from the 1930's to 1950's.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Hello Eddie,

I'm sorry but this one seems to be printed as well. Please,look at the thin lines of the mark, no traces of separate strokes and there are holes (missing parts) in the lines. Heat transfer printed, I would say, wich is a (rather) modern technic.

Regards,

Arjan

The red circle with rays is intended to represent the jewel of immortality, sometimes called 'flaming pearl.' The theme of two dragons contending for the jewel of immortality is centuries old in China.

On very recently made factory products such as your rice bowl, this is among the decorative motifs that could be called "kitsch."

Your bowl would have been part of a larger set of food serving ware, possibly made for restaurant use.

I am sorry I can not read the factory mark.

Good luck,
Cal

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