Page 85 - A Re-examination of Late Qing Dynasty Porcelain, 1850-1920 THESIS

Having evaluated all the seasonal dayazhai motifs, it is critical to consider that the

design was placed on a variety of porcelain forms, including bowls, dishes, covered

boxes, large bowls, jardinières, narcissus trays, etc. Of this list of known forms bearing

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the standard dayazhai seasonal motifs, the most rare form is the narcissus tray. The

form of this vessel was quite different, presenting viewers with a shallow open vessel

resting on small feet. Typically, the pattern of a narcissus tray is always consistent, often

accompanied by a bird or insect. However, the form of the tray itself, along with the

color palette, is always subject to some slight variation. The narcissus was one of Cixi’s

favorite flowers and can frequently be seen on both the porcelain she commissioned and

her personal garments. A Narcissus bowl with dayazhai marks from the National Palace

Museum, Taipei, illustrates how varied this form could be within the scope of Cixi’s

porcelain (Figure 20). This example has a deep blue ground along with a delicate bird-

and-flower motif spreading over a five-lobed form. The narcissus tray is one of the most

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copied wares from her reign. The style was widely copied during the 20 century,
standing as a testament to the aesthetic style Cixi created during her reign. However,

there is a drastic difference in the quality of the original narcissus tray commissioned by

Cixi and the later copies that is visible even to an untrained viewer. Specifically, the

major delineating factor between the narcissus trays produced in these two eras is the

quality of the painting on the porcelain. The painting should be reminiscent of the

images that were originally ordered and possess the same precisely painted imagery.

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Copies dating to the 20 century do not suggest the same painting technique as the

88 The narcissus appears to be one of Cixi’s favorite flowers, with images of it being found on
other items belonging to the empress like embroidered clothing. This form is extremely rare with
less than ten known examples presently known.

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